The short-term voluntary service from PLAY HANDBALL is now available through COACH ABROAD. A report by Nicola on the significance and development of the voluntary service at PLAY HANDBALL.
Having seen how volunteering can really change lives and make a positive impact in communities – plus the fact that PLAY HANDBALL started with the help of amazing volunteers – I’m super excited to introduce our new website for social sports projects: COACH ABROAD – www.coachabroad.de!
The motivation behind this project was to provide a platform for all our partners at PLAY HANDBALL in South Africa, Kenya, and beyond, helping them present themselves and find volunteer coaches for support. On the other hand, we aim to give interested volunteers insight into local projects and encourage and guide them on their journey to engaging abroad. PLAY HANDBALL started with the help of volunteer coaches, and I want to extend this opportunity to other organisations—not just for handball, but for all sports!
Since the launch of PLAY HANDBALL in 2013, new organizations from various regions in South Africa and other countries have approached us for support, whether for equipment, coach training, or volunteers. Having personally experienced how volunteering can shape one’s character, spark positive developments locally, and support people in their sporting missions, I was motivated to seek solutions. COACH ABROAD is the result.
COACH ABROAD is the evolution of PLAY HANDBALL’s short-term volunteer service. At PLAY HANDBALL, handball is at the center! Handball is our tool for positive social change. We help our partner organisations establish and develop handball. However, many of our local partners are interested in other sports as well, such as soccer or volleyball, or the children and youth find activities like dancing, skateboarding, or basketball much more exciting. Whether it’s handball, soccer, basketball, ballet, or skateboarding, the challenge for these social organisations in disadvantaged and rural areas remains the same: there is a lack of resources.
With COACH ABROAD, we want to make resources like volunteers, knowledge, and equipment accessible to social youth projects, and above all, provide disadvantaged children and youth with access to sports. We also want to give volunteers from countries outside the project areas the chance to experience the world beyond their own comfort zones and cultural settings, fostering openness and cultural understanding while helping to create a world free from prejudice and stigma. Sports can do that! Sports connect and empower individuals and communities.
Why isn’t COACH ABROAD continued under PLAY HANDBALL? As mentioned, the focus of PLAY HANDBALL is on handball. Additionally, the organisation has a clear non-profit mission that must not be diluted. To keep the lines clear, we established COACH ABROAD as an independent, socially-oriented company. Organisations are free to become partners of COACH ABROAD.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Following this African proverb, I sought a partner to accompany me on this adventure.
The plans have been in my idea workshop since 2017. Due to my own limited capacity (“My day only has 24 hours, and I don’t know or can’t do everything”), the project was initially put on hold. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Last year, however, I finally found the time and energy to pursue it again and sought a sparring partner for implementation. With Ronny, I found this social business partner. Not only does Ronny have a great passion for other countries and cultures—having visited over 30 countries as a digital nomad—but he also has the expertise I lack: he is an experienced web and graphic designer. Visit our new website www.coachabroad.de and get an overview. “Hats off to you, Ronny!” He has worked wonders in the past few months, completely overhauling my rudimentary site. Although I previously worked in an advertising agency and even studied marketing, that’s not my strength! Thank you, Ronny! I look forward to the further experiences we will have with this adventure.
Your opinion is also important to us. So, feel free to share your thoughts, whether praise, congratulations, ideas, or constructive feedback: just write to nicolascholl@coachabroad.de.
How can you apply?
Currently, we have six projects online, but we are in the process of adding more. This will happen gradually. If you would like to support PLAY HANDBALL as a volunteer handball coach, you can either search for handball projects directly on www.coachabroad.de or continue to reach out to us at volunteer@play-handball.org. However, our short-term volunteer program will now be managed through COACH ABROAD, while you will still be directly involved with PLAY HANDBALL or one of our partners on-site.
I am excited about this development, but I’m also nervous about the restart. Ultimately, I sincerely hope we can help many sports projects find volunteer coaches and support them with further sporting initiatives.
Yours, Nico(la) from Cape Town!
