Volunteering on the go in Gokarna

Posted on 28/01/2013 by Drewmanity

I was actually in transition between towns when I had some time on my hands that I wanted to delegate to a small community who I witnessed had a volleyball net set up. I was passing through like another day in my backpacking adventures when I came to the village of Gokarna, Southern India. I think it was just as rewarding for me as it was for them, I believe that a small act of random kindness teaching others goes a long way. I wish I would have taken a photo of the village people who came to watch and shake my hand. The man standing next to me was their coach, he was actually a solid player with previous experience playing in India. The memories will last a lifetime and hopefully one day one or more of these young men will be representing their country playing in the Olympics.

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Volleyball, Rural Village Soith West India.

Introduction day to the sports department

Posted on 25/07/2012 by Drewmanity

Teaching volleyball in Tanzania

Posted on 22/07/2012 by Drewmanity

This week in photos. Looking back I guess I should have taken more photographs to help you to understand how everything looked and went down however I was just so happy to be in Tanzania and coach the game I was so blessed to play.

Kids from the community getting ready to play volleyball for the first time in their lives

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Kids from the community come to Peace Matunda and learn Volleyball

Teaching volleyball in the class room

Posted on 21/07/2012 by Drewmanity

I kicked off my stay in Arusha with meeting with the secondary school up the street from Peace Matunda. I sat down with the principal and a few of the teachers to describe what my plan was. I told them that I am interested in teaching the basics of volleyball to the entire school, around 400 students, and from the students whoever seems slightly interested in learning more I will teach more to on the volleyball court.

I was shocked but excited to learn that no one knew what volleyball was. I felt compelled to give everything I had to make sure at least one of those kids had a chance to learn. After a couple hours of meeting up at the school and finding the kids that were interested I gave a presentation of the basics, then everyday the kids would come down after school to the volleyball court that was created for this camp and learn to play. Here is just one of the photos taken after one of my class room teachings on what volleyball is.

My Arival into Arusha Tanzania was welcomed by smiles in the classroom.

My arrival into Arusha Tanzania was welcomed by smiles in the classroom.

Saying thanks and goodbye

Posted on 15/05/2012 by Drewmanity

My FiVB dream season has come to an end with extra icing on the cake! It’s been a ride with this team as FC Schüttorf 09 volleyball rises to the top.

Team FC09 in a final slide, giving thanks to the fans!

Winning the league championship in the 2011-2012 season our team advances into the Second Premier League, (2. Bundesliga) in Germany. At age 30 and my first year playing any international volleyball I am grateful for being able to play this year. It was indeed a battle training on and off the volleyball court growing as an athlete. I believed that this could happen…. but wow! Now it is over. We accomplished our goals this season, we did our jobs, had fun, worked hard as a team but mostly we believed. This hasn’t happened in many years for this program so it’s a great reward to help this team and the community. It paid to work my butt off, eat healthy, ice the knees, BELIEVE in myself, all to be a part of this moment in time.

It’s moments like this in life that I see why I pushed so hard mentally and physically through the dark valleys where it would have been easy to quit. Thank you to my family and friends and mentors around the world.

“If you believe it you can achieve it”