Youth leadership project continues expansion in Latin America

 MIES (Switzerland) – The FIBA Foundation is promoting its 3x3 Youth Leadership program in Latin America with the aim of growing the number of community impact projects in the region. These ‘Basketball For Good’ initiatives are bringing basketball to all regions, thus achieving more youth participation and strengthening social initiatives in education, health and well-being.

During 2021, the Foundation virtually brought together young people (a woman and a man between 20 and 25 years old) from 9 Latin American countries (Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama). The aim was mainly to provide leadership and management training to help the Youth Leaders develop projects in their countries to address social issues of their communities, such as inactive lifestyle, violence, lack of access to education and to promote equality.

U18 event organized by the Youth Leaders from Ecuador

"The goal with this project is to empower Youth Leaders to create their own projects, supported by their National Federation, initiating positive changes in their communities. We make a conscious effort for gender equality in the election of our Youth Leaders and the projects must always be aligned with the respective National Federation", explains Horacio Muratore, FIBA Foundation President.

"We want to introduce all National Federations to the culture of 'Basketball For Good’ as well as train Youth Leaders to plan, execute and monitor programs using Mini Basketball and 3x3, "says Muratore.

The Youth Leaders of Costa Rica Meylin Herrera and Daniel Rodríguez have continued to promote the movement of 3x3 and Mini Basketball within the Costa Rican Basketball Federation (FECOBA) working on organizing a 3x3 Academy along with environmental education workshops.

U18 event organized by the Youth Leaders of Costa Rica

"It was very important to learn through Basketball For Good how sport and basketball are tools for change within communities. We decided to work with at risk population from 5 to 18 years old. We learned that sport is related to sustainable development and that we can contribute to education," said Meylin, who is also a mental health student and basketball coach. 

The Youth Leaders of the 9 participating countries have also been mandated to organize a 3x3 U18 qualifying tournament for girls and boys in their country. The aim is to gather the winning teams for an introduction to ‘Basketball For Good’ and for the Youth Leaders to undergo additional training to implement their own community impact program in their respective country.

U18 event organized by the Youth Leaders from Nicaragua

During the 3x3 tournament that Meylin and Daniel organized, their male and female participants were able to share, "we saw the importance of working in these communities making sure these children do not spend their time with negative influences. Sports is an ally in their training as people, students, and athletes. We also contributed to their environmental education on responsible consumption" adds the Costa Rican.

The gathering of the Youth Leaders and winning teams will be held between April 27 and May 2 of this year in El Salvador and will include a mixed nations tournament.