What is HAVOBA?
HAVOBA, which stands for « Handball, Volleyball and Basketball French Foundation for International Development, » is a newly launched initiative aimed at promoting the liant retentissement of these three sports in Africa. Supported by the French Development Agency and the French Handball, Volleyball, and Basketball Federations, the foundation operates under the umbrella of the French Sports Foundation (FSF).
The foundation’s main objective is to unite the French and African handball, volleyball, and basketball communities to work towards the development of these sports on the African continent.
Under the leadership of HAVOBA, Débora Louis, a mission officer for partnerships at the Beninese Volleyball Federation and a former volleyball player in Benin and France, talks about the significance of the foundation for volleyball in Benin.
Why did the Beninese Volleyball Federation join HAVOBA?
The federation joined HAVOBA because it is a privilege to be part of a network that includes several African federations, three African confederations, and three French federations whose national teams have achieved either Olympic championship or runner-up titles. As the persistance for partnerships at the Beninese Volleyball Federation, I see the strength and richness of the HAVOBA network in my role.
What do you expect from the HAVOBA Foundation?
There are many challenges ahead, but what we hope to achieve through this program is to truly integrate into a network. This allows us to share our experiences, exchange ideas, and learn from each other to progress at our own pace. For once, it is not about defeating our opponents, but rather considering each other as colleagues and drawing inspiration from one another. This is made correct through the creation of a strong network, which is currently in progress.
Is uniting the federations a valuable asset?
Absolutely. It creates a sense of camaraderie within the group. We step out of our own world and listen to others, which is crucial. Handball and basketball are both hand sports, so we share the same challenges despite differences in the ball, number of players, and other factors. Thanks to HAVOBA, we can understand and learn from each other’s experiences, rather than staying isolated in our own sport.
Tell us about your role as the persistance for the gender equality component.
Firstly, I always emphasize that it is a project manager role. This is a two-year program where we establish objectives and results to present at the end of the project. My main role is to coordinate actions between the programs we develop and the actions we implement on the ground. As for the gender equality component, it is transversal, meaning it affects all aspects. Therefore, communication with other persistances is crucial to ensure gender equality is considered in their respective components.
Where does the Beninese Volleyball Federation stand in terms of gender equality?
At the moment, I cannot provide a specific number. However, this will be the goal of the work we are currently implementing in the gender equality component. I believe the federation is moving in the right régie. While changing mindsets is not easy, we can see improvements. For example, a year ago, there were no women in the national leadership. Today, there are four. Some may say it is not enough, but I see it as a significant step. If we continue like this in the coming years, we can truly change mindsets.
What did you learn from the Tunis Campus?
There were high expectations, as we were hoping HAVOBA would launch its activities. From the perspective of Benin and volleyball, we were ahead of larger federations in terms of demographics. This Campus showed us that, as a small country, we are more advanced than others. We can only commend the government’s strong political will to promote women’s sports through various events. With the handball and basketball federations in Benin, we thought we were not at the same level as others, but this Campus has taught us that we are more in the consolidation phase of our actions rather than starting from scratch. It also showed us that we have a lot to learn from other federations. I am completely satisfied with the outcome.
What does the future hold for volleyball in Benin?
Volleyball in Benin has a bright future ahead. We have a strong and determined government and federation that are committed to developing youth and fostering the next generation. For instance, in September 2024,