Playgrounds & Vocational Project for Jamestown.

The Mobile Basketball Project is coming to an end!

Here is what has been going on:

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURRICULUM

The staff assisted by multiple international volunteers worked on the development of this 5 month curriculum. The curriculum includes 5 sessions that were implemented at the three selected sites with the support of the partner organization.

Each session is 2 hours long and is divided into three sections:

•Basketball Skills;

•Life Skills;

•Partner Workshops for Project Sustainability.

COACHING TRAINING

The first step was to identify a cadre of 15 youth among 150 DUNK members. The selection went according to their involvement, their interest and the potential they have shown in becoming peer educators. The coaching trainings were conducted by coach Charlie Bridge and included theoretical and practical components.

REFEREE TRAINING

The selected Young Coaches were also introduced to officiating matches by Frank Sefakor. Four (4) theoretical sessions with our Referee expert Mr. Frank Sefakor were conducted as well as dozens of practical sessions where the young referees officiated youth and adult Basketball matches while being evaluated by their leader, Jesse Amegbo. The selected Young Coaches were also introduced to officiating matches by Frank Sefakor. Four (4) theoretical sessions with our Referee expert Mr. Frank Sefakor were conducted as well as dozens of practical sessions where the young referees officiated youth and adult Basketball matches while being evaluated by their leader, Jesse Amegbo.

CONSTRUCTION OF A COURT

During our assessment phase in Kokrobite, we realized that there were no safe spaces for children from this poor fishermen village to play. Most of the children from Kokrobitey were found wondering around the beaches or followed their parents to participate in the fishing activities.

A piece of land was donated by Lindsay (CEO of Volunteer-to-Change) for the construction of a Basketball Court on the same land her eco-friendly school is being built.

In order to allow the community to take ownership of the project and also promote the feeling of belonging, all the construction materials, labourers and contractor services where hired/purchased in Kokrobitey. Apart from these local labourers, 20 youth from DUNK-Nima were selected by the Youth Committee to participate in the construction of the court. Bringing along shovels, a wheel barrow and more, it was day of hard work and accomplishment for our selected members. (Date: 3-01-2014)

The two other selected sites/partners had their own Basketball Court.

PARTNER WORKSHOPS

Hebron Houses (Chance-For-Children)

A total of 23 boys and 27 girls participated in the workshops (50 participants). Boys and girls were trained separately to allow both groups to feel comfortable in learning a new sport. The participants were very receptive and appreciated the sessions. CFC has been a great host and fed our young coaches at the end of every session.

Hebron Houses Testimonials

“I learned that we must not say we cannot do it, if we work hard we can do it”

- Girl Participant, 15 yrs

“I learn that we have to work together. Thank you all for coming here to training with us, we really enjoyed it and I pray that you will come again”

- Care Taker 

“The dynamics in it and how the small coaches gets everybody massively taking part and also the comments that follow when a players attempts in amazing”

”They will understand how to work together, improve their concentration, have fun and most of all develop self-discipline”

- Social worker

Kokrobitey (Volunteer-to-Change)

A total of 26 children from and around Kokrobitey between ages of 6-16 years are being trained at Kokrobitey’s newly built Basketball Court. These sessions are being monitored by a local leader, who is in charge of carrying out the practices in between our sessions.

Additional notes

1. The participants from Kokrobitey are doing extremely well as they are being trained weekdays as well by locals who voluntarily took on the project.
2. Most participants did not have any sports equipment (Shoes, balls, shorts etc.) Therefore shoes, jerseys, t-shirts and shorts were shared among the participants.
3. Kids were so delighted even though they had no knowledge about basketball, it was clear from their smiles; all they wanted was an opportunity to play and socialize.
4. It is very challenging to convince the parents to allow their kids to participate in the sessions instead of working with their parents in this particular fishing community.

Dodowa (Orphan Aid)

There were 20 participants from Dodowa among which 6 were girls. Only one session was conducted with Orphan Aid so far. The second session was canceled due to a Volleyball tournament they were participating in.

The session began with an ice breaker allowing our young coaches to get to know the children from Dodowa. This was followed by a life skills training based on TEAMWORK. The children were then divided into 3 groups to learn some basketball skills on dribbling, passing, lay-ups and shooting.

Dodowa Testimonials

“I learned about TEAMWORK and that all of us have to know how to work with each other!”

Girl participant– 17yrs

“I like the training, it was fun.”

“We don’t get match to play, so we want you come again so we can play with you.”

Girl participant - 14 yrs

Here are some of our results:

                        A safe space for children to play has been built in Kokrobitey;

                        The participants from Kokrobitey received basic equipment to enjoy their sessions such as shoes,                                 shorts and T-shirts;

                        96 children were introduced to the game of Basketball in three different communities;

                        96 children have acquired new life skills: leadership, teamwork and respect;

                        3 local ambassadors are taking ownership of the project and are being empowered by our members;

                        3 partner organizations have been equipped to carry on the project (4 balls and 10 jerseys per site);

                        15 members of DUNK were provided with employability skills through coaching and referee clinics;

                        11 sessions were held in three different locations;

                        One of DUNK young coaches was trained by FIBA coaching officers who were impressed with his skills.                           He was the youngest participants of the training;

                        Our young coaches are leading DUNK-Nima sessions;

                        Our young referees are now officiating adults matches with great success.

Don't miss out more updates and pictures on Facebook!

Brief about the project

DUNK!'s previous successes have stimulated demand from community groups for partnerships in implementing similar initiatives. This project is derivative of the needs identified for at-risk children to socialize, learn, play in a safe environment. In communities plagued by high levels of school drop-outs, illiteracy, unemployment and, idleness among youths at times leading to criminal behavior, the project will help build character and provide leadership training.

This is a 6-month project to be implemented in collaboration with established partners at three sites in impoverished communities around Accra. DUNK! will identify and train a cadre of youth coaches who will deliver 15 training sessions (5 per site), empowering each partner to take ownership of the project outcomes. The project also includes the construction of a Basketball Court in Kokrobite, a fishermen village.

Let the youth speak up!

From March up to now, our young coaches continued their great work organizing Hebron House 3rd and 4th sessions and Kokrobite 3rd session. 

For this report, we are putting our youth forward!

Here is what are beneficiaries had to say:

 “I learned that we must not say we cannot do it, if we work hard we can do it” 

                                                                                       - Adobea,15yrs (Hebron House)

 “As for me, I learn that we have to work together, and then I like the training very much. I like to thank you all for coming here to training with us, we really enjoyed it and I pray that you will come again next time”

                                                                                       - Madam Gladys (Care Taker/ participant)

 “The dynamics in it and how the small coaches gets everybody massively taking part and also the comments that follow when a players attempts in amazing” “the training will improve the children fitness, sharpen their brain (critical thinking) and also help them to learn how to follow instruction” ”They will understand how to work together, improve their concentration, have fun and most of all develop self-discipline”

                                                                                       - Freda Opoku (Social worker)

 " I have played basketball long before i came to DUNK, but in my country, they only thought us skills and not game plan, not how behave when you loss or win, not how to take the pressure and be mentally ready.... All this i learnt at DUNK. and I wanna Thank You".  

                                                                                          – Gercy, 16 years (DUNK member)

 We are moving forward!

Salim Hussein our lead coach of 17 years of age was invited by FIBA to attend his first accredited coaching clinic leading to his certification. The trainer was very impressed with Salim’s coaching skills!

Here is more about Salim.

Shining Stars membes/ Vice-President of Youth committee\Assistant coach

Salim joined DUNK in December 2012 with keen interest in learning the game of basketball. It was his first time being introduced to basketball.

Salim lives with his mother and father and 6 siblings. He is the oldest child of his parents. Being the oldest child, he takes care of his younger brothers and sisters. Salim was never involved in a group activity before.

Yet, Salim proved to be a great leader; one of those leadership style that just arise from itself, a natural leadership.

Salim became a big brother to all DUNK members. He acts as a role model to his juniors and peers to emulate. Salim also leads the mobile basketball project with charisma and attention to all vulnerable children which he worked with.

Salim’s self-respect and respect for others eventually got him to be the Vice-President of DUNKs Youth Committee. Moreover, Salim involves himself within his community and organize local youth and mobilize them for clean-up exercises.

From the recent parents’ survey conducted by DUNK, Salim’s parents pointed out the positive change of behavior in Salim since he joined DUNK. They now described him as being Courageous, Kind and Selfless Leader.

Finally, Salim represented DUNK at the 2014 International Schools Summit hosted by Lincoln in February 2014 to discuss world issues.

Keep yourself updated and keep donating as our next step is to complete the half court in Kokrobite to become a full court!

Exciting Development!

 Thank you for believing in our mission of Promoting success on and off the court!