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 One of the greatest
sources of pride for Hoops 4 Hope is when we are given the opportunity to
build and install new baskets at a school, playground, or community center.
It’s a process that gets a lot of people involved and has positive
and lasting effects. We do our best to use recycled materials in the construction,
and by sourcing local welders and builders, we keep the job local to the
community. Then once the job is done and the hoop has been installed, the
benefactors have a new court where to play. Hoop building is the foundation
of what we do – it gets local people involved and provides an outlet
for kids to do what they do best - play!
Any H4H coordinator who has ever been a part
of one of our clinics will tell you that there  are
few things more fulfilling than being involved in this activity. Because
of the enthusiasm by the kids who participate, you can’t help but
have a great time facilitating it all. Clinics consist of games and drills
that get everybody involved, and along the way an effort is made to focus
on teamwork and good sportsmanship. The response is always overwhelming.
And with the positive forum that the clinic provides, it becomes a good
place to encourage kids to discuss topics that affect their lives. HIV and
AIDS awareness are often topics of discussion, where misconceptions and
myths about the disease are dispelled, and common sense is encouraged.
SKILLS 4 LIFE
is the H4H Life Skills program. Life Skills are acquired or developed skills
or tools that help a person become successful in life. This extends from
knowing how to brush your teeth to being able to use language effectively.
Our coordinators study how to effectively pass on this knowledge on to the
kids they come into contact with. We believe that by focusing our efforts
on the Life Skills that are essential to all people, we are providing them
with the important tools they need to develop a strong and positive character,
so they will be equipped to make healthy positive choices.
Hoops 4 Hope was originally built on the
idea that sporting equipment had value even after a lot of use. In our first
years, the amount of stuff we shipped over to Southern Africa was meager
– just a few balls and shoes collected from friends and family. Now,
the recycled equipment idea is a massive operation, and entire schools and
clubs have held drives to collect various sporting goods for use in the
communities we serve. Our shipments now move across the Atlantic via cargo
ship, and the equipment we disperse gets used until it turns to dust!
The first coach’s
tour took place in 2002, and it brought a small number of high school and
college coaches over to South Africa in an effort to expose our kids to
some great coaching, and to create a greater awareness of what Hoops 4 Hope
is all about. The tour was a great success and now we are working toward
creating more frequent exchanges between the two continents. Our goal is
to give players and coaches from America and Africa an opportunity to crossover
(often for the first time) and give them insight into what the sporting
and cultural world is like on the other side of the ocean. |
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LIFE
SKILLS EDUCATION SKILLS 4 LIFE
is the H4H Life Skills program. Life Skills are acquired or developed skills
or tools that help a person become successful in life. This extends from
knowing how to brush your teeth to being able to use language effectively.
Our coordinators study how to effectively pass on this knowledge on to the
kids they come into contact with. We believe that by focusing our efforts
on the Life Skills that are essential to all people, we are providing them
with the important tools they need to develop a strong and positive character,
so they will be equipped to make healthy positive choices.
THE
COACHES TOUR The first coach’s
tour took place in 2002, and it brought a small number of high school and
college coaches over to South Africa in an effort to expose our kids to
some great coaching, and to create a greater awareness of what Hoops 4 Hope
is all about. The tour was a great success and now we are working toward
creating more frequent exchanges between the two continents. Our goal is
to give players and coaches from America and Africa an opportunity to crossover
(often for the first time) and give them insight into what the sporting
and cultural world is like on the other side of the ocean.
