Former Dutch competitive hockey player and child psychologist Miled de Man recently completed a deeply fulfilling exchange visit to Zimbabwe, partnering with the local non-profit, Young Achievement Sports for Development (YASD).
The visit was a blend of professional knowledge exchange, personal connection, and a journey into the heart of Zimbabwean culture and community.
De Man, who is also the co-founder of the Hockey for Everyone initiative in the Netherlands—which aims to introduce less affluent children to the sport—found a kindred spirit in YASD, an organisation that uses sport to raise awareness on developmental issues and empower disadvantaged young people with education and life skills.
The core of the exchange was a mutual learning experience, uniting two organisations with the shared goal of youth empowerment through sports.
De Man detailed the nature of the collaboration saying: "My partnership with YASD was based around a knowledge exchange: sharing expertise and learning from each other.
"I work in the Netherlands as a child psychologist, who empowers young people by sports and YASD does exactly the same work in Zimbabwe," she said.
“Both countries, Netherlands and Zimbabwe, can learn a lot from one another.
“We did workshops, visited locations and had many interesting conversations about the youth and sports.
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The partnership began digitally, with De Man actively seeking out similar organisations in Zimbabwe.
"I found YASD online while I was searching for similar organisations in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“Their website is very interesting and I emailed them for an online introduction."
YASD spoke highly of the collaboration, underscoring the value of networking for sustainable development.
"Young Achievement Sports for Development celebrates the power on networking and building synergies for sustainable development,” the organisation said.
“Our structured sports training programme has been benefitting from expertise and experience of a volunteer from the Netherlands, Miled."
A highlight of the trip was the time spent interacting directly with the young participants.
De Man, a 26 year-old who has played hockey competitively her whole life, joined the children for community hockey sessions in Mbare.
"I loved talking and interacting with the children who join the projects,” she said.
“They have a very positive energy and clearly enjoy the sports a lot.
“In addition, building a good relationship with the team in the office was fun.
“Besides the work aspect, we got to know each other and I feel I build meaning relationships for life."
YASD emphasised the impact of De Man's presence on the field.
"During the course of her stay Miled took to the field with the children of Mbare for a fun and energetic community hockey session! It was more than just a game, it was about connection, culture, and creating safe, joyful spaces for kids to grow,” the organisation said.
“Through sport, we continue to bridge worlds, build friendships, and empower young people one play at a time.
“Big thanks to Miled for bringing her energy and heart to the field. The smiles said it all!"
The exchange has laid the groundwork for future cooperation, with exciting prospects on the horizon.
"We have been talking about organising some projects together and who knows if I can come back in two years for something exciting that YASD is planning,” De Man said.
“ I don’t know if I can tell something about this yet, but it sounds very promising."
Beyond the professional sphere, De Man's personal experience of Zimbabwe was profoundly positive, characterized by the warm hospitality of the people.
"My stay in Zimbabwe was amazing because I met the friendliest people,” she said.
“From my first day people have been welcoming me and inviting me to activities. I truly got to experience “Ubuntu” philosophy."
A lover of nature and adventure, De Man also explored some of Zimbabwe's most iconic sites.
"Besides the social aspect, the nature in Zimbabwe is extremely beautiful,” she said.
“Victoria Falls, Nyanga Park, Imire Park. I got to see some wonderful places. My favorite cultural place was the Great Zimbabwe Ruins: such a mysterious place build with incredible architectural skill."
Describing herself as a positive, happy person who loves making music, De Man's energy and expertise clearly resonated with the YASD community, proving that a shared passion for sport and youth development can create meaningful, life-long connections across continents.
