Basketball for Good Promotes Massive Social Growth for Venezuelan Youth

CARACAS (Venezuela) - In 2020, Mi Convive was one of the successful applicants of the Propose a Project platform from the FIBA Foundation, a Venezuelan social organization, to further the group’s mission of enhancing community engagement in areas with high levels of violence.

The FIBA Foundation provided different sizes of basketballs to Mi Convive, which often lacked the necessary adapted materials and infrastructure to accomplish its goals.

“In addition to the importance of sports in reducing violence, basketball is one of the most widely practiced sports in our low-income communities,” Jhonderwing Zambrano of Mi Convive said. “Unfortunately, these sports clubs face many challenges, exacerbated by the economic situation in our country.”

Working with the FIBA Foundation and its “Basketball for Good” initiative, Mi Convive has bolstered its stock of basketballs and has already witnessed a major impact.

“We were able to benefit more than 16 sports clubs operating in various low-income sectors of Caracas,” Zambrano said. “Around 1,800 children from 11 different parishes in Caracas benefited from each donation, expressing their gratitude for being recognized by an international foundation and feeling important in popularizing the sport worldwide.”

According to Zambrano, the donation has allowed Mi Convive to establish new teams, training programs, and safer environments within often-dangerous areas.

“Many of these young people are influenced by the negative environment and may turn to drug use, join local criminal gangs, or commit crimes like theft,” Zambrano said. “Therefore, it's crucial for the organization to continue strengthening the work of sports clubs in low-income areas, aiming to promote youth citizenship through sports, provide more opportunities, and enhance protective factors while reducing risk factors in their environments.”

In working with Mi Convive, the FIBA Foundation has established additional goals to refurbish and recover eight basketball courts and to create partnerships with three national artists to participate in the design and paint the courts. Mi Convive has already rehabilitated 20 sport courts in Venezuela.

Going forward, Mi Convive plans to reach even more communities within their nation.

“We aim to involve more young people in this extraordinary work we do every day, allowing them to feel that they have the necessary support to pursue their dreams and overcome the challenges of their often adverse environments,” Zambrano said. “We are committed to providing safer spaces, believing that ‘life in the neighborhood starts on the court.’”

The political and social climate in Venezuela has been full of strife, but projects like Zambrano’s are at the ground level aiming to arm the nation’s youth with tools for future progress.

“We want fans to know that, despite the challenges our country is facing, many of us are still working and striving to contribute to positive change,” Zambrano said. “We believe in positive change, working from the grassroots, social work, and the development of values such as empathy, tolerance, and respect. It's essential to understand that we have immense talent in various fields, and all it takes is opportunities to showcase it.

“Thanks to the FIBA Foundation, we can continue to strive to use Basketball For Good, caring for others, and stepping out of our comfort zones to help those in need.”

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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