Fiba Foundation – ‘Basketball for Good’ platform |09 December 2022

Third phase of initial project a success

The third phase of the ‘Basketball for Good’ platform, an initiative of the Fédération internationale de basket-ball with the full backing and support of local Islamic Bank Al Salam-Seychelles Limited took place on Saturday at the Victoria Gymnasium and was great success, according to the organisers.

The platform is primarily aimed at attracting and retaining young participants, with more focus on women and girls, as well as providing safe, inclusive and accessible environments to help participants enjoy their basketball experiences.

An initiative of the Fédération internationale de basket-ball (Fiba) Foundation, which is the social and legacy arm of Fiba that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.

The foundation uses the power of basketball to initiate positive social change globally, contributing to the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.

Officially launched locally in September, by Theren Bullock, manager of the Fiba Foundation, in the presence of chief executive of the Al Salam Bank-Seychelles Limited Asim Kumar, the first phase of the platform was a two-day working session, involving both theory and practical sessions, being facilitated by Mr Bullock, assisted by German Paulina Fritz, who is also from the foundation.

Areas covered included introduction to 3x3 basketball, introduction to good coaching, effective communication, safeguarding and child protection, monitoring and evaluation, the hoops for health programme in action – level one and two, among others.

It targeted physical education teachers and coaches involved with grassroots basketball.

The second phase was to disseminate the knowledge and introduce the sports to the younger generation.

As for phase three, held last Saturday, it was to assess the programme, and see the development through a one-day jamboree, involving all the schools around the country.

According to Miss Fritz, the aim of the project in Seychelles is to combine basketball with a social element, precisely non-communicable and healthy eating.

She noted that she was really satisfied with the turn-out, as well as the involvement and enthusiasm of the teachers towards the project.

She further noted that following the success of year one of the project, they will try to spread the two more remaining years over other inner islands, thus expending the sphere, bringing basketball towards more children of the country.

The Basketball For Good programme started in 2016 and now runs 15 projects in 64 countries, reaching 28,000 youths globally.

The foundation aims to grow the scale and impact of its Basketball For Good programme and this new digital platform will also become a central hub for the wider Basketball For Good community.

Through the platform, individuals can make donations, offer equipment or services to support the projects, or find out about volunteering opportunities.

Photos of the third phase of the local the ‘Basketball for Good’ platform in full swing taken by Roland Duval.

Roland Duval