MIES (Switzerland) - On the occasion of The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 6 April , the FIBA Foundation Youth Leaders are proving that basketball can be used as a tool to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

April 6^th presents an opportunity to recognize the role that sport and physical activity plays in communities and in people’s lives across the world. Sport can cross boundaries and defy stereotypes and inspire hope across nations.

The FIBA Foundation Youth Leaders are organizing events addressing various SDGs to show how basketball can contribute to a better world.

Shereif from Scotland is addressing SDG 1 – No poverty

Shereif will be attempting to run 100km in a single day to fundraise money for the Rising Stars youth development and empowerment charity. The Rising Stars charity aims to serve children and young adults from less affluent communities by allowing them to join a structured sport programme through basketball, to receive mentoring and tutoring support in pursuit of their academic and professional goals.

Shereif took us on one of his training runs and explains more about the charity with an Instagram takeover which you can see here.

Daphne from Botswana is addressing SDG 2 – Zero Hunger

Daphnee is organizing a food drive within her program ‘Young Girl Athlete Dignified’ which focused on enriching the lives of female players across Botswana. They are collecting food to help a local family in need.

Maureen from Zimbabwe is addressing SDG 3 – Good Health & Well being

Maureen is hosting a video competition "be (you) inside out" to encourage participants to share their physical and mental health routine and encourage more youths to follow in their footsteps.

Kondou from Gabon is addressing SDG 4 -  Quality Education      

Kondou organized an event within his Association Azeva. He gathered kids from his program to speak about the conciliation of basketball and education and the importance of education in all its forms, in school, in the street, at home…

Dan from Australia is addressing SDG 5 – Gender Equality             

Dan is running a girls only learn to play basketball class.

Domenico from Italy is addressing SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation

Domenico wrote an article on NBA player Malcom Brogdon's project which provides drinking water to communities in East Africa. Read it here.

Pakel from Saint Lucia is also addressing SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being

Pakel is organizing some personal training lessons to educate participants on the importance of good health.

Janis from Latvia is addressing SDG 9 – Industry Innovation and Infrastructure 

Janis has fully rennovated an old warehouse into a two and a half court basketball arena which is hosting all kinds of events every weekend locally and internationally. He is hosting a basketball tournament that is open to all.

Manni & Petrina from Namibia are addressing SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities           

Manni and Petrina have partnered up with the French Embassy in Namibia to launch the Olympics campaign as France is will be hosting the 2024 summer. The day’s theme is securing a "Sustainable and Peaceful Future for All". They will be using the opportunity to invitie participants to join this event with sports games and life skills.

Abigail from Honduras is addressing SDG 13 – Climate action         

Abigail is doing a reforestation event. She obtained the donation of trees to plant them in a community that suffered a major forest fire more than a year ago. It is intended to promote in children the culture of the environment, resource protection, and awareness of social responsibility. The children that took part in the event are beneficiaries of Mini Basketball in Honduras.

Paola from Italy is addressing SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong institutions

Paola organized an activity that consists of a basketball match involving the local community and the Ukrainian community in Sardinia. The aim is to send a strong peace message, saying no to war and showing support and solidarity towards those affected by the current humanitarian crisis. 

Participants were asked to bring aids – food, medicines, clothes, and other supplies – which, in coordination with the Association “Ucraina Sardegna Uniti per la Pace” – will be distributed to those in need.

By using basketball as an occasion to come together, learn from each other and support each other, they are reinforcing the statement that a peaceful world is possible. "Make sport, not war" is the strong message they are sending out to the world.

Paola took us with her during her event with an Instagram takeover which you can see here.

Petrina and Manni from Namibia as well as Janis from Latvia will be doing Instagram takeovers during their events in the upcoming days, you will be able to follow the action here.

About Youth Leadership:

The FIBA Foundation’s Youth Leadership program is a global Basketball For Good initiative giving youths the skills and opportunities to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities. This program teaches leadership and life skills through 3x3 basketball. The Youth Leaders are supported to create their own community impact project, growing the Basketball For Good family worldwide. Please contact us if you want to know more about our programs or if you are interested to work with us.