Basketball is a universal language. At the Hoop Ambassadors Project, we believe teaching students to view basketball as a global sport exponentially expands their possibilities. Our program connects students around the globe via uniform donations, skills camps, and court donations to create positive life outcomes. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to build a new basketball court for our youth partner teams in Nigeria.
It's no secret that organized sports activity helps children develop and improve cognitive skills. According to the Healthy Sport Index, team basketball activity can affect attitudes and academic behavior. At the Hoop Ambassadors Project, we believe that we can leverage the benefits of sports to create positive life outcomes. In countries like Nigeria, where basketball courts are sparse, we're looking to engage the global basketball community to bridge the gaps.
We recognize that for many of our students, the ability to connect with other young people in the nearest city may seem unfeasible; the thought of connecting to youth in other countries, unimaginable. Our project goal is to equip 100 youth basketball players with the appropriate resources to engage in healthy play. As a kick-off for this project, we've committed to supporting the build-out of a basketball court in Minna, Nigeria.
Using mobile technology, our team will connect youth with other players who possess their matching jersey number around the world. In essence, their jerseys become their "passports" to learn about the cultures of their universal teammates.
