A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Dear Friends and Teammates, Hope Wins.
It’s a simple yet profound truth that resonates deeply in our work at the Center for Sport, Peace & Society. This year, more than ever, we’ve seen that hope has the power to transform lives, unite communities, and light the way forward in even the most challenging circumstances.
We are thrilled to share several milestones that exemplify how hope continues to triumph:
(1) Fulbright Honors: Dr. Sarah Hillyer and Dr. Carolyn Spellings were named Fulbright Specialists by the U.S. Department of State Through this program, they partnered with National Taiwan University and the Taiwan Sports Forward Association, collaborating with alumni to share hope and expand the reach of sports-based
(2) Securing the Future of the Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP): This year, we secured $3.6 million in funding to continue the U.S. Department of State Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) through 2027 Since its inception in 2012, CSPS has received a total of $18.6 million in funding, enabling us to empower 287 women and men from 97 countries (to date) to use sports as a catalyst for hope and positive change.
(3) Supporting Afghan Women in Sport: We received two grants to support the Afghan women’s basketball group now living as legal refugees here in Knoxville, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to offering hope and healing to women from some of the world’s most restrictive geo-political environments.
(4) Celebrating 20 GSMP Programs: This year marked the successful implementation of our 20th GSMP cohort, an extraordinary milestone for a h i ff h d
2024 CSPS alumna, Saltanat Kazybayeva (Kazakhstan), gives a high five to a Special Olympics athlete after training at the University of Maryland
suffering, instability, and systemic inequities persist despite advances in technology, economic development, and global commitments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The solutions to these problems require bold action and innovative thinking, but without hope, there’s little to stand on or stand for
create a world where hope is not only a guiding light but also a powerful force for change
With hope gratitude and high fives,
That’s why we choose hope. Hope fuels our belief that every individual has the potential to make a difference, that every community has the power to heal and grow, and that the world can become a more just and equitable place.
As we close out this year, we extend our deepest gratitude to all of you our partners, alumni, supporters, and friends who share in this vision
Sarah
J. Hillyer, PhD
Founder
and Director Center for Sport, Peace & Society University of Tennessee
Photo Credit (for all photos in the report):
Jaron Johns CSPS Photographer / Dei Gratia Photo
HIGHLIGHTS 2024
FULBRIGHT SPECIALISTS
Dr. Sarah and Dr. C were both named Fulbright Specialists, a program of the U S Department of State, and were partnered with National Taiwan University and Taiwan Sports Forward Association, working with alumni of CSPS educational programs.
Awarded a NASH Catalyst Fund Grant to support the mental health needs and educational goals of 8 Afghan women basketball players resettled in Knoxville, TN.
Secured $3.6 million in funding to implement the U.S. Department of State Global Sports Mentoring Program through 2027, totaling $18 6 million in funds since the program began in 2012.
Since 2012, the CSPS has worked to create more stable, equitable, and inclusive communities across 107 COUNTRIES.
In 2024, the CSPS team worked with 110 PARTNERS locally and globally to implement our programs and activities
GSMP PROGRAMS
This year we successfully implemented our 20th U.S. Department of State Global Sports Mentoring Program! Since 2012, 287 men and women from 97 countries have participated in the program.
In total, the CSPS has been awarded almost $20 MILLION to leverage sport as a tool for development.
A HEART AS BIG AS HIS COUNTRY
ForHassenMannai,sportsareaboutinclusionand personaldevelopment.Asaregionaldirectorofayouth sportsprograminTunisia,heworkshardtoprovide peopleofallabilitieswithaccesstosports.Witha backgroundinphysicaleducationandalmost20yearsof experiencenavigatinglifeinawheelchair,Hassensees accesstoadaptivesportsasanessentialcomponentofa flourishingsociety.
Hassenisa2024alumnusoftheU.S.Departmentof StateGlobalSportsMentoringProgram:Sportfor Community.HewasmentoredbyErikRobeznieksand histeamattheUniversityofMichiganAdaptiveSports andFitness
ON THE GLOBAL STA
In June and July, two of our superstar alumni facilitated participation of Taiwanese and Brazilian girls at the Julie Foudy & espnW Sports Academy Camp for girls in Los Angeles, California hosted by the University of Southern California (USC): Po Chun ‘Sophiya’ Liu (Class of 2017) and Renata Siqueira (Class of 2023). As Renata later told us, “the exchange program was truly incredible We are immensely grateful and deeply transformed by this experience ”
Team CSPS welcomed fiv from The Netherlands to for a one-week Sport 4 G program in January. The i partnership with the U.S. The Hague, truly embodie work to connect the local global in our efforts towa g equality for all.
Dr Sarah and UT Lady Vols legend Michelle Marciniak were on the ground in Bolivia in February alongside several CSPS family members in support of the second edition of the Strong Women. Better World Summit led by Piña Pozo, Maira Coll, Yolanda Cori Cañaviri, and Karen Torrez They were joined in La Paz at the Bolivia Olympic Committee by Silvija Mitevska (CSPS Class of 2016), who shared about her groundbreaking work in Europe on sports diplomacy
The CSPS Family was well represented at the Paris 2024 Games, from a masterclass by Silvija Mitevska (Class of 2016) at the "How Can We Be Active Together in Europe?" conference and media coverage by Pina Pozo (Class of 2016) of Bolivian Olympians to our fabulous sporty friends and partners Peggy Turner and Marcie Kern of TIRR Memorial Hermann who provided an intimate behind the scenes look from their experiences and perspectives at the Paralympics
In March, Dr C headed virtually to Uzbekistan, where alongside Lubov Smirnova (Class of 2023), she addressed the State University of Physical Culture and Sport on empowering individuals studying h to train and develop elite athletes i Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Dr Sarah spent three weeks in March working with CSPS 2013 alumna Dr 曾郁嫻Yu-Hsien building partnerships and exchanging with students, faculty, and university administrators from National University of Taiwan, as well as sports officials from the Chinese Taipei National Paralympic Committee, Chinese Taipei National Olympic Committee, and the Chinese Taipei National Training Center during site visits. This unique sports diplomacy and education exchange centered on self-reflection, self-discovery, and self-realization Highlights also included lots of connections and conversations about the power of sports diplomacy and leadership celebrating the practical application of initiatives chang
In June, Dr. C spent three weeks in Taiwan with Taiwan Sport Forward Association, founded by Sopihya PoChun Liu (Class of 2017) to exchange knowledge, cultural understandings, and technical know-how. She also worked to establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions, and communities both in the United States and overseas through a variety of educational and training activities under the larger umbrella of “Education ” As Dr C. observed, although the sports systems between our two countries are very different, the lessons we learn from playing sports are the same: work, perseverance, team building, and leadership.
Dr. Sarah and Dr. C served as Fulbright Specialists to Taiwan, part of the U S Department of State’s esteemed Fulbright Exchange Program that each year sends U S experts overseas to share their knowledge with and learn from international counterparts.
H O P E W I N S
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE GLOBAL SPORTS MENTORING PROGRAM
In April-May 2024, we hosted the U.S. Department of State GSMP: Sport for Community to empower international leaders in the field of disability sport. The 16 participants represented 13 countries and included elite athletes, rehabilitation specialists, and adaptive
In October-November 2024, we implemented the U.S. Department of State and espnW GSMP, focused on empowering women through sport Fifteen women from 14 countries participated in the 5-week mentorship program and crafted action plans detailing how they will use sport to address a pressing social issue facing women and girls in their community. In total, 13 organizations participated as mentor sites.
Ritah Aliguma (2023 alumna), Keti Zazanashvili (2022 alumna), and Mayan Omair (2023 alumna) served as peer mentors to the 2024 espnW GSMP cohort.
VIRTUAL LEARNING
This year we organized 80 educational hours by delivering three Bootcamps — virtual learning workshops — designed to meet the professional development needs of the CSPS alumni community. We partnered with social media, mindfulness, art, and social justice experts to engage and equip 88 alumni from 58 countries.
Abigail Smithson from the Art + Film department at Cal Poly Humboldt facilitated a virtual workshop for the Sport, Art, and Social Justice bootcamp
MENTORING STUDENTS
We continue to be committed to mentoring a diverse group of students and to providing students meaningful experiences that help them reach their personal and professional goals. Here are highlights from two students we mentored in 2024.
TyWellemeyer
2024CSPSStudentIntern
Ty is an undergraduate student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee Throughout his time with the CSPS, Ty has played an instrumental role as a writer and editor See the story he wrote on pages 12-13!
JeffDodson
2024CSPSStudentIntern
As a CSPS student intern, Jeff works with 3PlayMedia to ensure all CSPS video archive content is accessible and ADA compliant He is a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville studying sport management
SEED FUNDING FOR ALUMNI
In 2024, 43 alumni from 21 countries were awarded small grants, totaling $84,000. This funding helps alumni launch and implement their action plans: sportbased, socially innovative business plans designed to empower women and girls, people with disabilities, or other marginalized groups
Report being more prepared to use sport as a tool to positively impact their communities
Action plan implementation rate
97% 81% 71%
Percentage of action plans with youth as the main benefactors
Regional Distribution of Seed Funding
H O P E W I N S
HOPE
2024 has been a record-breaking year for women in sport and women’s sports around the world, and we’re celebrating those achievements with a special focus on our GSMP female alumnae who are working on the frontlines to promote hope and healing through sport This year for the first time, we awarded a HOPEmaker of the Year award in recognition of three of our CSPS alumnae whose remarkable, extraordinary work is truly making an impact in their local communities, deploying the powerful tools of sport and education to work towards a more hopeful planet for all Read on to meet our three winners!
Ashreen Mridha
BANGLADESH |
CSPS 2018
Meet Ashreen Mridha (Class of 2018), founder of the award-winning Deshi Ballers whose inspiring work promotes hope, healing, and the possibility of brighter tomorrows for women and girls in Bangladesh. Deshi Ballers, the country’s first female-led sports organization, is on the frontlines to organize opportunities for women and girls of all ages and backgrounds, reaching more than 8,500 participants In teaching knowledge for how to play the game and the skill sets needed to excel, Ashreen and her team help participants to become confident, independent leaders in sports and beyond by encouraging them to participate in volunteerism and activism for women’s right to play.
Throughout the political instability in Bangladesh over the past year, Ashreen continues to be a source of encouragement, safety and hope for her family and community of Deshi Ballers despite the many challenges around her. “I want to inspire girls to contribute toward creating a strong female force in Bangladesh,” she said.
In the summer of 2024, all sports federations in Bangladesh were dissolved The new basketball federation recruited Ashreen into its ranks, an important acknowledgment of her contributions and continuing work for the country’s basketball and sporting scene “It won’t be easy” Ashreen is the only female representative on a 16member committee. “But at least my voice is where it needs to be... I finally have a seat at the table, something that has never happened in my country’s history. I am truly thankful.”
Fatma Ahmed
ZANZIBAR | CSPS 2022
Meet Fatma Ahmed (Class of 2022), Founder and Chief Executive Director of Michezo kwa Maendeleo (MIMA; Swahili for Sports for Development) who serves as a beacon of hope by empowering women and young people through sports participation, leadership development and community engagement in Zanzibar Fatma created MIMA in 2021, a bridge that creates opportunities for young girls and women to play, learn and explore the world of Sports for Development Her hope is that girls’ inclusion in sports will help young women overcome cultural barriers that limit their full participation in society.
This beacon of hope is much needed for in Tanzania, gender-based violence (GBV) remains a significant problem, despite improvements in recent years According to the United Nations, one in three women are subjected to sexual, physical, or other forms of abuse and more than two million girls are subjected to female genital mutilation
“Having worked with women in sports settings for many years, I have witnessed a significant gap, particularly for women footballers Many of them come from disadvantaged backgrounds such as school dropouts, single mothers, and GBV victims This award [being selected as a HOPEmaker of the Year] is a testament to the impact that sports for social development programs can have in addressing the challenges faced by women in sports Empowered women truly have the ability to empower other women”
Iman Sabb
LEBANON | CSPS
Meet Iman Sabbagh (Class of 2018), a physical education teacher, Special Olympics coach, and superhero working to empower children with disabilities in Lebanon through the transformative power of sport. Iman founded the first wheelchair basketball league in Saïda, Lebanon to provide youth a platform for adaptive sport In 2019, she was selected to serve as the project coordinator for the first international wheelchair basketball tournament hosted in Lebanon.
Her work on the frontlines fosters hope for brighter tomorrows, something very much needed in Lebanon Disability is still largely misunderstood in much of the country and many spaces remain inaccessible. People with physical disabilities cannot move freely around, and the larger Lebanese community lacks awareness about physical or learning disabilities Moreover, conflict and crisis in Lebanon this year impacted at least 30,000 people with disabilities
Iman’s ability to serve as a beacon for hope, particularly for the disabled community, knows no bounds. This year, she proved that dreams do come true when she opened an adaptive gym for people with disabilities. Iman’s sports center provides a safe place for people with disabilities to come and play sports their own way One of the center’s star programs is wheelchair basketball, but it also provides inclusion training for people with intellectual disabilities, an athletics program, and training in badminton and table tennis Iman’s work continues to touch lives and bring rays of hope to the communities she serves.
W THE LEGACY LIVES ON
BY TY WELLEMEYER (CSPS STUDENT INTERN)
hen she was CEO of Netball Northern Zone in New Zealand, Julie Paterson noticed disparities in funding, media coverage and sponsorships between men’s and women’s sports in her country.
This inequality left her with questions “Why does this happen?”
Paterson later explored the causes during her time at the Women’s Sports Foundation as part of the 2015 U.S. Department of State Global Sport Mentoring Program (GSMP). As part of her action plan, Paterson created Women in Sport Aotearoa (WISPA) to eliminate these discrepancies
“Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand, and we very much wanted it to be our whole community,” Paterson said. “We wanted it to be representative of what we were there to do, be an advocacy organization for women in sport ”
Once she returned to New Zealand, Paterson felt pressure to put WISPA into action.
“There’s an obligation that sits with having that amazing opportunity and being able to deliver on that promise that we made on that day when you stand and present your action plans at the end of the program, and essentially promising in front of everybody that this is what you're going to do,”
Paterson said.
Paterson and co-founder Sarah Lieberman invited a group of women who worked or had worked in sports to answer one question.
Do you think we need to have some sort of organization to represent women in sport in New Zealand?
With positive responses from the group, Paterson and Lieberman put WISPA into action
A main focus of the organization is to improve the visibility of women’s sports, working with media organizations in New Zealand to provide information for more media coverage
WISPA also hosted the 8th International Working Group World Conference on Women and Sport in 2022. And even if Paterson is no longer on WISPA’s board, she knows it’s in good hands with Nicky van den Bos
“One of the best things that we did was we employed Nicky to be the second CEO of WISPA,” Paterson said.
van den Bos became inspired to help elevate women’s sports in New Zealand through her work at New Zealand Cricket, where she helped run major international cricket events.
“We started to do a lot more matches where we would run the men and the women's games together, so we would do one after the other,” van den Bos said. “It was very evident the lack of investment and interest in the women's game. Broadcast coverage would reduce and ticket sales go from a sell out to only a few 100 spectators on the grounds. All these things just started to really hit home for me.”
And after a program director job opened at WISPA, van den Bos jumped at the opportunity to make a change for future generations of women and girls. Now as CEO, the opportunity feels surreal for her.
In 2024, Nicky was selected to participate in the U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP), following in Julie’s footsteps.
“It just felt really special to know that she [Julie] had paved the way for this organization Her project was this organization [WISPA}, and then me going through that experience [GSMP] and curating my own project just almost made me feel so connected to what Julie had started in her initiative,” van den Bos said.
As always, van den Bos said one of WISPA’s goals is to help increase the visibility on women’s sports in New Zealand But she also said another goal of hers is to support women in leadership positions in sports, choosing to focus part of her GSMP action plan on working moms.
“I want to establish a community of working mums in sport that can support one another, whether that's through shared resources, shared information, access to services like lawyers and financial services for your return to work and different questions that come up that you don't really know where to go to,” she said.
Another way van den Bos and WISPA plan to promote women in sports leadership positions is through the Pacific Sports Women’s Leadership Program, a model based on the GSMP.
Early this year, 14 women from different locations in the Pacific will participate in the program. “I’m proud to become almost an example of how you can take this global program and run it and create more so you're scaling,” van den Bos said. “So I think that's a huge part about impact, as well as not just our own two islands, but pushing out into the Pacific as well.”
For Paterson, watching her action plan come to fruition and create change has been rewarding. “I continue to feel so very fortunate to have been one of the people that had the good fortune to end up in the GSMP and am so pleased that we've been able to deliver on that promise in New Zealand,” she said. “It just keeps on giving.”
Pictured Right: Nicky van den Bos, 2024 CSPS/GSMP alumna
TAKING A STAND
JaneMoura,aparticipantinthe2024 U.S.DepartmentofStateandespnW GlobalSportsMentoringProgram (GSMP),isusingherorganization, Empodera,toamplifyBlackwomen’s storiesandpromotetherighttoplay sportsforallwomeninBrazil JanecofoundedEmpoderaalongside2019 CSPS/GSMPalumna,ThaísOlivetti. Together,JaneandThaísare committedtousingsportstohelp Blackwomenrealizetheirfull potential,ensuringtheycanoccupy socialspaces,includingsportsfields andcourts,onequaltermsandbecome protagonistsoftheirownstories.
DuringtheGSMP,Janewasmentored byJulieEddleman(DoubleVerify)and DiCummins(Simpactful).
SOCIAL CHANGE IS A TEAM SPORT
Uniquely-situated at a Research I institution, the CSPS is a social enterprise committed to creating a more peaceful, equitable, and inclusive world through sportbased innovation and education.
We offer global leaders the tools needed to make a positive difference in their communities from grassroots levels to governance and help spark social progress, locally and abroad, through leadership programs, international outreach, storytelling projects, and scholarly research, all in pursuit of global solidarity
Through our unique, intersectional pedagogy and multidisciplinary approach, we leverage the lessons inherent in sport, education, and entrepreneurship to produce scholarly outputs, share stories of progress, and empower international changemakers in more than 100 countries.
The primary beneficiaries of our work are women and girls, persons with disabilities, youth, refugees, marginalized populations, practitioners, advocates, and students.
Although our director has worked in the field of Sport for Development and Peace for nearly 30 years, the CSPS was officially founded in 2012. Soon after, we were awarded the inaugural Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) cooperative agreement through the U S Department of State Since then, we’ve been awarded nearly $15 million to promote gender equality and disability rights on a global scale.
To build a global team of partners working to provide innovative sportbased and educational solutions to solve some of the world's most pressing social challenges.
To create a more peaceful, equitable, and inclusive world through sport and education.
A people-first approach that values the dignity of every human being through intentionality, flexibility, humility, honesty, and selfless service to others.
ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP
This year, we’ve had the privilege of sharing our knowledge, experience, and expertise with students, teachers, politicians, athletes, researchers, community workers and activists. Incorporating our findings into creating innovative programs, sharing key lessons with global and local audiences, and working to make life and lives better illustrate how our engaged scholarship continues to impact the world.
Here are a few notable examples:
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
Center for Sport, Peace & Society: In the Business of Social Change with Haslam Business School Sports Marketing Class
Sport for Development & Peace: The Center’s Approach to Changing the World One High Five at a Time with University of Louisville Sports Management Class
Saluting our Troops by Sharing Stories of Hoops with University of Tennessee – Martin Veteran Services
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
THOUGHT PIECES & PUBLICATIONS
Climbing for Dreams Locally and Globally in the Book of Diplomacy and Sports Cooperation: Reputation, Development and Peace, Diplomacia y Cooperaction Deportiva, 3rd International Congress of Sports and Physical Culture
From Surfing Waves to Cultural Waves: What an Iconic Olympic Photo Taught Me about My Fulbright Experience in Taiwan
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
Political Podiums: The 2024 Olympics with 20/20 Network
It’s More Than a Game: How Sports Can Change the World virtual workshop with the University of Physical Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan
Afghan Women’s Basketball: A Journey of Hope and Gratitude with Knoxville Rotary
From Hoops to Hope: The Story of the Afghan Women’s Basketball Team with Sports Events & Tourism Association Women’s Summit
Let’s Play! How Sports Develops Global Leaders series of four virtual workshops with the Taiwan Sports Forward Association and American Institute in Taiwan
PARTNERS & NETWORKS
2024 VIRTUAL LEARNING PAR
Dr. Jill Brooks
Abigail Smithson
Vanessa Tomaszew
2024participantCristinaCopa(Bolivia;pictured incenter)withhermentors,LindsayRovegno(left) andKateJackson(right),fromESPN
2024participant picturedleft)wit UniversityofTexas,Arlington
theTEAM MEET
Founder and Director
Assistant Director
Dr. Sarah Hillyer
Dr. Carolyn Spellings
DR. LINDSAY SARAH KRASNOFF Content Expert and Writer
RAINEY JOHNS Program Coordinator
MORGAN IRISH-GEORGE
JARON JOHNS Photographer
JENNÉ BLACKBURN Program Assistant
SUMMARY
Grant Funding
U S Department of State
OF 2024
REVENUES
Afghan Athlete Resettlement & Education Initiative
General Fundraising
TOTAL
SUMMARY OF 2024 EXPENSES**
Global Programming in the U S
Grant Making
Afghan Athlete Education
TOTAL
N T MAKING
$1,140,000 $163,793
$7,995
$1,311,788
$1,014,364 $84,000 $174,213
$1,272,577
AFGHAN ATHLETEEDUCATION
Help us meet the educational goals of 13 Afghan athletes. It’s easy, impactful, and feels good - just click here.
Help us celebrate CSPS alumni using sport to create more hopeful people and communities around the world here.
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U. S.
GLOBALPROGRAMMINGINTHE
Place your order for Strong Women. Better World: Title IX’s Global Effect through UT Press. 100% of book sales go to support our grant-making program!
sportandpeace.utk.edu @SportandPeaceUT facebook.com/thecenterforsportpeacesociety @sportandpeaceut issuu.com/sportandpeaceut youtube.com/sportandpeaceut soundcloud.com/sport-and-peace-ut globalsportsmentoring.org @SportsEmpower facebook.comGlobalSportsMentoringProgram youtube.com/globalsportsmentoringprogramorg flickr.com/photos/globalsportsmentoringprogram Center for Sport, Peace & Society |