Record-breaking number of WOA Grants awarded

25 | 7 | 2022

Twenty-two Olympian-led projects across all five continents will receive funding which will change the lives of their communities, after being awarded this year’s WOA Service to Olympians and Service to Society Grants.

Some of the inspirational projects awarded grants include bringing Olympic Values into schools in Nepal, keeping girls in sport in Australia, and helping to improve the environment in Ghana. Following a record-level of applicants, WOA made the decision to fund a greater number of projects with smaller grants enabling more Olympians to make a direct, positive impact in their communities. The selection was made by WOAs Grants Panel led by President Joel Bouzou OLY and will be brought to life in the coming months.

World Olympians Association President Joel Bouzou OLY said:

“Awarding NOAs and supporting Olympian-led projects with our WOA Service to Olympians and Service to Society Grants is a highlight of our year. Each year we see first-hand the amazing work that Olympians do in their communities and how valuable the funding is in supporting inspirational projects that directly impact fellow Olympians.”

Gracie Ann Dinkins OLY from Liberia NOA commented:

“Being awarded the Service to Society grant has been a strong show of support and recognition from WOA of the work our NOA has done and will continue to do. The WOA grant funding will enable the Kutoa Afrika Foundation (supported by Liberia NOA) to continue its work of partnering with communities in crisis and to enhance the futures of women and children in those communities.”

In addition to the 22 Service to Olympians and Service to Society Grants a project proposed by Ukrainian Olympians will be funded through the #OlympiansforUkraine Appeal. This project will involve five seminars to give Olympians crisis management tools and will create a network of support within the Olympian community in Ukraine. 

To donate please visit the GoFundMe page and help us to continue providing aid and support to the Ukrainian Olympian community.

Learn more about the inspirational work NOAs and Olympians are doing with their WOA 2022 Grants through our website, Facebook and Twitter.

The next application window for WOA Grants will be launched at the start of 2023.

2022 WOA Grant NOA Recipients*

  • Africa, Cape Verde: Streetov - Olympic Values in My Street
  • Africa, Côte d'Ivoire: Judo Youth Olympic Educational Day (Jyoed)
  • Africa, Ghana: Helping Former Olympians know about their Health Status
  • Africa, Ghana: Olympians for Change: Improving the Environment by Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Plastic Waste
  • Africa, Guinea-Bissau: Run for Life
  • Africa, Liberia: Construction of a Hand Pump, Latrine and Provision of Desks for a Public School in Liberia
  • Africa, Malawi: Empowering Past Olympians
  • Africa, Malawi: Assisting Flood Victims
  • Africa, Mali: Sports Activities for Children in Refugee Camps in Bamako
  • Africa, Mauritania: Construction of Shelters
  • Africa, São Tomé and Príncipe: Meufitness (Myfitness)
  • Africa, Uganda: Olympians Sowing the Seed of Olympic Values with Youth
  • Africa, Zambia: Health and Fitness for Disadvantaged, Vulnerable and Refugee Children
  • Africa, Zimbabwe: Friends of the Environment
  • Americas, Guyana: Erection of a bust of Guyana's sole Olympic Medallist
  • Americas, Mexico: Sport as Inspiration, Mexican Olympic Athletes as Agents of Change in Society
  • Asia, Nepal: Bringing Olympic Values to Schools
  • Asia, Japan: Broken Sabre Regeneration Project
  • Asia, Philippines: Online Sports Leadership Programme (OSLP) National Summit
  • Europe, Lithuania: A Sense of Home Life for Ukrainian Children
  • Oceania, Australia: Message Bracelets - Selina Scoble OLY
  • Oceania, Australia: Keeping Girls in Sport - Rachael Lynch OLY

*A pilot approach has been implemented for Asia and Africa allowing more NOAs to receive funding by awarding more but smaller grants.