When sport opens doors

Sometimes the most meaningful impact starts with something simple: access.

Opportunity begins the moment someone is allowed to step in.

During the Cape Town Beach Volleyball Tournament, hundreds of learners from different schools were able to attend world-class matches on their own beach in Camps Bay. For many of them, it wasn’t just a tournament. It was proximity to possibility.

Because sometimes all a young person needs is to see what’s possible.

That moment was made possible thanks to Anne Siroky, a well-known figure in the local volleyball community who has spent years creating opportunities for young people. As Schools Programme Coordinator, she helped organise free access so learners could experience elite sport up close.

Real change isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like a door opening.

At YOUNG Foundation, this is exactly what we want to protect and grow: initiatives where sport becomes a foundation for education and community. Not one-off moments for visibility, but actions that expand access and create lasting confidence.

Anne’s commitment goes far beyond a single day.

She is now preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for children and community programmes, using the challenge to keep opening doors for the next generation. To support this initiative and amplify its impact, YOUNG contributed €2,500 to her fundraising efforts.

Impact starts small, then grows through people who keep showing up.

This story is a reminder of what happens when sport, community and opportunity meet in the same place, guided by someone who chooses to build access, again and again. And it’s also a good example of how we think about support: with intention, responsibility, and long-term impact in mind.

Want to share a sports initiative?

YOUNG Foundation actively invites clubs, teams, and individuals to pitch sports initiatives that create real opportunities for young people. Every proposal is reviewed carefully and responsibly, including with a dedicated financial lens, because meaningful support requires thoughtful decisions.

If you have an initiative to share, we would love to hear from you.