Landmark grassroots initiative to reach more than 140,000 students across Chandigarh
The FIVB, the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT) and the Chandigarh Administration today officially launched the Udaan School Volleyball Programme, a landmark initiative designed to embed volleyball into school sport and inspire mass participation across the region.
The programme builds on the Knowledge Transfer Programme held from 18 to 22 August, where world-renowned FIVB instructors John Kessel and Jana Kulan trained 120 PE teachers from 108 government schools. Over five days, teachers learnt volleyball skills, teaching methods and Olympic values content, equipping them to collectively impact more than 140,000 students across Chandigarh. The immediate enthusiasm was evident, with several schools launching volleyball sessions the very next day.
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The official launch was attended by leading figures from international sport and the Chandigarh Administration, including Olympic gold medallist, IOC Athletes’ Commission Vice Chair and ABFT Founder Abhinav Bindra, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, FIVB General Sports Director Steve Tutton, along with representatives from the Chandigarh Administration, including: Prerna Puri, IAS Secretary of Education and Sports, H.P.S. Brar, IAS Director of School Education, and Sorabh Kumar Arora, PCS Director Sports. Together, they reaffirmed their commitment to making volleyball a central part of school life in Chandigarh. As part of the celebrations, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between all the stakeholders, and the FIVB Volleyball Foundation.
The launch event celebrated the power of volleyball both on and off the court. Students showcased vibrant artwork under the theme Volleyball Through Art, blending the sport with ideas of dreams, teamwork and Olympic values.
Several teachers also shared their personal experiences from the Knowledge Transfer Programme late last month, noting how the training methods and equipment support provided by the FIVB and ABFT have already begun to transform volleyball sessions in their schools.
Participants also had the chance to join a Q&A session with Abhinav Bindra and Fabio Azevedo.
Speaking at the event, Abhinav Bindra emphasised the transformative role of sport in education:
“Through this programme, we aimed to empower teachers across the region as volleyball coaches, which in turn empowers children to engage with sport. Sport builds resilience, trust, friendship and creativity, and hopefully a genuine love of movement in young people. By integrating Olympic values with volleyball training, we’re equipping students with both essential playing skills and life values they can carry forward. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness such enthusiastic participation from teachers and schools throughout Chandigarh, and we’re excited to see this continue.”
FIVB President Fabio Azevedo hailed the initiative as a significant step in the empowerment of the Global Volleyball Movement, stating:
“The FIVB is proud to partner with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, the Chandigarh Government, the Olympic Values Education Programme and the Volleyball Foundation to bring the Udaan School Volleyball Programme to life and to make volleyball even more accessible. Volleyball is a sport that thrives on collaboration, integration, peace and solidarity, and through this initiative we are empowering teachers and children to embrace these values. The immediate impact in schools shows the power of collaboration, and we are hopeful that this project will inspire thousands more young athletes to get involved in volleyball and join the Global Volleyball Movement.”
Following the event, Fabio Azevedo also visited some of the schools that the Udaan School Volleyball Programme are supporting through knowledge transfer and volleyball equipment, to speak with their members and to hear about the impact of volleyball on their communities.
Looking ahead, the Udaan Programme will be supported with structured follow-up, monitoring and resources. Plans include regular volleyball sessions in all participating schools, the introduction of inter and intra-school tournaments, a digital dashboard to track progress in schools, and extended use of school courts for community volleyball after hours.
With its official launch, the Udaan School Volleyball Programme demonstrates developments for grassroots volleyball in India. The FIVB, ABFT and Chandigarh collaboration gives thousands of teachers and young athletes the chance to shine through volleyball.
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