Sports Prison Program Phönix Reshaping Lives Through Basketball

Vienna (AUSTRIA) – In its latest activation, the FIBA Foundation has partnered with Austria’s Phönix - Training for Life through a micro-grant and  Molten basketballs.

Phönix - Training for Life is an Austrian non-profit organization that supports people in prison by using sport as a means of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. ​​Through professional coaching during incarceration and athletic follow-up and mentoring after release, the organization aims to reduce the likelihood of relapse. Avoiding offenses, preventing victims.

Ricardo Parger, the founder of Phönix - Training for Life, applied to FIBA’s Propose a Project program with the organization’s mission in mind.

“Team sports emphasize interaction within a group, teaching valuable lessons about behavior in a social context,” Parger said.

Basketball requires a level of motor skills and concentration. Fairness and teamwork take center stage, requiring individuals to cope with frustrations and endure them. These are things from which we all benefit in our daily lives.

 “Moreover, the sport carries a certain coolness factor. In the words of Nelson Mandela: ‘It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.’ There is a lot of despair in prisons.”

"The donation of basketballs has aided the organization immensely," said Dominik Bachmeier, Co-Founder of Phönix - Training for Life. The program now has enough basketballs to cover nearly the country’s entire justice system.

“These donations have not only provided the necessary resources for our resocialization program but have also allowed us to allocate our budget to other essential areas, ultimately enhancing the overall impact of our initiative,” Dominik said. “The support from these donations goes beyond the game; it positively influences the lives of those involved in our program, contributing to their rehabilitation and well-being.”

The project has been operational since October 2021 and is currently being implemented in three prisons in Austria.  By 2024, it is expected to find a home in five prisons.

A participant in the program, who will go by Joseph B. for the purposes of this publication, has noticed tremendous benefits from Phönix - Training for Life.

“The physical activity has done wonders for me, both physically and mentally,” he said. “Moreover, playing basketball has transported me back to a time when my world was different, providing solace to my soul. I appreciate that we are treated with respect, not condescendingly, but on equal footing without reservations — an experience not often encountered within these walls.”

Joseph says that the additional basketballs have increased the accessibility of the training programs and allowed more participants to benefit from Phoenix’s mission of rehabilitation and reintegration.

“The program is more than just a series of basketball sessions,” Joseph B. said. “It's a lifeline within the confines of this environment. It's a source of physical and mental well-being, a sanctuary where I can momentarily escape the challenges of my surroundings.

“It's a rare space where judgment is replaced by camaraderie, and each participant is treated with dignity. The program, in essence, is a beacon of hope, an oasis in the desert, reminding me that positive change and personal growth are possible, even in the most challenging circumstances.”

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The FIBA Foundation 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 FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.

 FIBA