On Friday 1 November, Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister and Minister for Women, the Hon Senator Marise Payne, concluded her whirlwind Pacific visit with a stop in Luganville on Vanuatu’s largest island of Espiritu Santo.
A key focus of this visit was to acknowledge the progress of the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation’s Volley4Change program – which is supported under the Australian Aid funded Pacific Sports Partnerships initiative – and to be updated on VVFs recent active incorporation of ParaVolleyball (Sitting) into its sport for development family.
Police Headquarters in Luganville, Santo was a hive of activity from the early hours as staff, community workers and volunteers prepared for the Minister’s visit, erecting marquees, despite the strong easterly winds, arranging seating, preparing food and setting up a temporary Sitting Volleyball court inside the Youth Sports facility at the Northern Police HQ.
The Minister was treated to a lively exhibition of paravolley as well as Women’s volleyball on the outdoor court, co-ordinated by the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation’s Santo staff. She was encouraged by news of growing partnerships between the V4C program with the Police and local NGOs, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and the community.
About Volley4Change: Volley4Change is a sports for development program managed by the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation. Founded in 2014, V4C aims to help people in Vanuatu make positive lifestyle changes through keeping active by playing Volleyball and learning the importance of physical activity and good nutrition.
Volley4Change Program is supported by the Australian Government (DFAT) and facilitated in partnership with Volleyball Australia.
