Training the Future: How Sport Changes Lives and Builds Communities

Synopsis

This book explores the transformative power of sport, particularly volleyball, as a vehicle for personal growth, social inclusion, and international cooperation. Drawing on direct experiences coaching young people in difficult contexts, the author, Andrea Genova, highlights how sport teaches fundamental values, builds resilient communities, and offers hope and dignity. The text also provides practical guidance on designing and implementing social impact sports initiatives, emphasizing the importance of institutional partnerships and sports diplomacy. It analyzes sport's role in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the operational challenges in fragile contexts, with a specific focus on volleyball's potential as an accessible and inclusive sport. The book concludes with a reflection on the coach's role as an agent of change and the importance of a flexible, individual-centered approach for lasting impact.