MIES (Switzerland) – The FIBA Foundation launched over the weekend its Youth Leadership program in Latin America. Bringing youths together virtually from 9 different countries for the first step of this project.

The aim of the Youth Leadership project is to initiate Basketball For Good community impact projects in Latin America by equipping youths of the region with tools to address social issues within their communities such as physical inactivity and violence.

The Virtual Leadership Seminar is the first step of the program, where one female and one male youth leader of each participating country (which were selected according to specific criteria and in cooperation with the respective National Federation) between 20 and 25 years old will receive 3x3 digital tools, leadership and management training.

During the seminar, the youths will acquire the tools and skills to lead and build projects that use basketball as a means of social transformation. They will learn how to identify community issues that people around them are subject to, create solutions and put them to the test to validate them. They will also learn how to measure the project’s impact, as well as communicate it effectively so that more people become involved.

During a second step, the Youth leaders will organize a 3x3 U18 event in their respective countries in collaboration with their National Federation and connecting it to a social cause. It will be an opportunity to put into practice what they learn during the seminar.

If travelling is allowed, the final step of the project will be a final tournament and youth leadership workshop. The Youth Leaders and the winning team from each qualifying event will be invited to a final in a country of the region where they will mix teams and organise a mixed nations tournament. All players will also participate in a youth leadership workshop, while the Youth Leaders will receive an advanced training on creating social impact programs.

By the end of the 3 phases, the goal is for the Youth Leaders to have fully structured social project, as well as all the skills necessary so they can continue on the path of social entrepreneurship, contributing positively to better communities through basketball. They will implement their own program, in collaboration with their respective National Federations and grow the impact of Basketball For Good in the region.

The following National Federations are represented:

• Bolivia
• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• El Salvador
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama