HOOPS 4 HOPE GLOBAL NEWS & UPDATES FROM OUR H4H CHAMPIONS
FEBRUARY 2010 An Epic Journey from Harare to Cape Town Written by Chris Middleton - The International Platform on Sport and Development (www.sportanddev.org) It took the Hoops 4 Hope (H4H) Zimbabwean team three days to travel from Harare to Cape Town and take part in their training. An epic journey reflective of the development of H4H, an organisation involved in development through sport in Southern Africa. Ngoni Mukukula, co-founder of Hoops 4 Hope, contemplating the bus used to bring the Zimbabwean delegation to Cape Town H4H provides life skills through basketball with programmes running in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Staff and volunteers from both countries took part in the “Skills 4 Life All-Star training programme” from February 18-20 in Gugulethu, South Africa. Ngoni Mukukula, co-founder of H4H, and coach of Zimbabwe’s women's national basketball team, reflects on the journey that brought him to Cape Town for this event, and more generally on the overall development of H4H. How did you get involved in basketball in Zimbabwe? “I set up the first basketball team in the community of Dzivarasekwa back in 1991. Basketball was new for the members of the community: they were surprised to see men using their hands instead of playing football with their feet! Initially, we would only have limited attendance at our games, but after a few years, we got used to playing in front of a couple of thousand people. The basketball court is extremely central, and our games rapidly became a source of entertainment for the community.” And how did the “Hoops 4 Hope adventure” begin? "At that time I was working for the Sport and Recreation Commission of Zimbabwe, and one of my assignments was to coordinate basketball programmes within rural communities in Zimbabwe. One day, while returning to the office, I was informed an American by the name of Mark Crandall had left a note, indicating he was interested in getting in touch with me. (continued)
(continued) We met the same week, and I was immediately touched by Mark’s sincerity, simplicity and dedication. I was really excited to meet someone who shared a similar dream, however I didn’t suspect this was the first chapter of such a fascinating story. Mark had to return to the USA, and back in the nineties, we depended entirely on post mail. So basically, we conceptualized the Hoops for Hope programmes via letters! The letters I wrote from Zimbabwe took two weeks to reach Mark, and his replies would also get back to me within a fortnight. I’ve kept all the letters Mark wrote back! We launched Hoops 4 Hope in 1997 in the community of Mabvuku, Zimbabwe. Before we knew it, we were operating in nine different communities." And are there any challenges you faced while setting up your programmes? "Yes, I could identify four main challenges: first of all, we needed to convince the parents that basketball represented an adequate vehicle to provide their children with life skills. Secondly, we had to set up basketball courts enabling the kids to play in safe environments.
“. . .we learn from each other on a daily basis. . .”
Thirdly, it was crucial for us to involve the local city councils to make sure they’d support us in our endeavor. And finally, we needed to identify and train coaches capable of teaching sports and life skills."
What are the main similarities and differences between your programmes in South Africa and Zimbabwe? "Overall, we share a common vision within the organisation, which is to provide youth with opportunities through sports. It’s easier to communicate nowadays, and we learn from each other on a daily basis. However, I also note a few differences between our programmes: Zimbabwe has emerged from a major socio-economic crisis and an intense period of political turbulence. Children have been directly affected by this situation: in the communities, we noticed numerous children couldn’t attend school regularly, or needed to help their family generate some income. Therefore, I believe there is an important need in Zimbabwe to “help them become children” again, and I believe Hoops 4 Hope can contribute to this process by offering them an opportunity to play in a safe and clean environment which is supervised by competent coaches."
The Power of the FlipVideo! It’s not a phone, it’s not a camera, but it is the easiest-to-use video camera on the market and it is taking the tech world by storm. With a mission to get these powerful cameras in the hands of organizations around the world, FlipVideo is now a sponsor of H4H. The FlipVideo device is a powerful tool that is being touted by the likes of the NBA, Paul Pierce, and Lance Armstrong, and it has allowed H4H to bring all our magic quickly and easily from the courts in Africa to our H4HGlobal YouTube Channel. Check out our latest School Bus Trip from Zimbabwe and ‘We Care’ videos at: http://www.youtube.com/user/H4HGlobal Coach Kita records all the action from the court in Nyanga Township with his FlipVideo! 2
February 2010 * Hoops 4 Hope
Bruce Tantsi started as an H4H MVP in 2001, became an All Star in 2004, received the Bowman Family Scholarship to pursue his dream as a sound engineer in 2007-8, and is now in the real world working for. . . well you guessed it! He still comes into the office at Ikamva Labantu during his busy day to see our operations in action, see old friends, and to motivate current All Stars about their life plans. Bruce knows his experience at H4H was a steppingstone in his career path, and making a life for himself off the court! H4H Plays Tennis! Community Outreach in Gugulethu International and Local Tennis Pro’s came together in Gugulethu on Sunday, January 31st at the Lavuka Tennis Club to teach some aspiring tennis stars for a memorable afternoon clinic. Guest Coaches included International University Coach and Player, Rob Kresberg, and the Western Province Woman’s Champion, Sue de Lara. Sunday's clinic was exciting on the tennis front, with donations of 10 racquets from H4H's shipment of sporting equipment from Canada, and of course some Skills 4 Life sessions dealing with HIV prevention and making the right choices on and off the court. Mandy Sikawuti, founder of Lavuka Tennis Club in Gugulethu, is a great supporter of H4H. Mandy loves the game, played competitively as a kid, now works a 9-5 job, and lobbied for a tennis court to be put up by the Gugulethu Council. She loves to give back to the players in her community and H4H is proud to support her! The below letter displays the power of our H4H Outreach to excite action in a community! Top of the Morning to you Mark & H4H: I, on behalf of Lavuka Tennis, would like to send you our most overwhelming gratitude for the clinic yesterday. It was awesome, the kids loved it, we had fun & they would not leave the court until I called for Stop! Stop! Again, I thank the Gods for making us meet that special day. To Rob, Chris, Zolani & H4H, thumbs up! Till we meet again, Mandy 3
February 2010 * Hoops 4 Hope
Cape Town Player Profile: Lilitha Sokoyi Written by Lilitha, herself
My name is Lilitha Sokoyi and I will be turning 11 years old this year in December. I am a young girl who lives in a community called Khayelitsha in Cape Town South Africa whose life has been changed a lot by the Soccer 4 Hope program. Things that I love to do during my spare time are playing my musical instruments, playing soccer, and watching soccer. How did I first become involved in Soccer 4 Hope? A few years ago soccer wasn’t really my passion and I just enjoyed the popularity it brought me. When ever I would go somewhere and especially in school, children would point at me and say ‘there is our coach’s sister’, and that I really enjoyed. But one day my coach Cindy came to fetch cones at my home and I asked if I could go with her. She agreed, and that was a start of an amazing road for me. I went through her life skills and soccer practice sessions, then I learned and enjoyed myself and I went again the next day and I became a player for my school’s team. What do I like the most about Soccer 4 Hope? The MVP coaches. I trust my coach and she makes me happy and I can always talk to her when I have problems to share. The other thing is, S4H has saved me a lot from negative things. Two of my friends got robbed once, but lucky me I had league games to play that day, and my one friend got raped last year. I don’t know how I survived that, but I really say thanks to Soccer 4 Hope for keeping me busy and saving me from a lot of things. How do I feel about being in Soccer 4 Hope? I feel very safe. I’m doing something that’s making me happy, I’m getting information on a daily basis, and I love being part of the program. I want to stay for always and you know what? When I’m out of primary school I want to become like Coach Cindy and be an MVP and then also be the life skills manager like my sister. . . if I can, I’m not sure! What lessons do I remember? I remember a lot, but my favorites are: Lifeline-Because that’s the lesson I first learned from S4H. My Supporters- It taught me how to support and not hate people with HIV, and I think that we need to teach a lot of people. Goals- That’s from the drugs module. I love it because it teaches me not to focus on the negative things, but to focus on my goals and what do I want to be and how will I get to it. I really love S4H and one of my latest hobbies is facilitating lessons to my family. When my coach is there at home with her friends, I stand up and teach a lesson. She is very proud of me, even if I can’t do them very well. But I know my effort counts! 4
February 2010 * Hoops 4 Hope
S.I.T. In Action! Exchange students do their part H4H Founder Mark Crandall came to Africa in 1984, as part of the first Rotary exchange student group ever in Zimbabwe, as a bright-eyed fifteenyear-old ready to explore the world and leave his hometown and parents for a year. His passion for learning and travel continued in college when he was a SIT (School for International Training) student in Melbourne, Australia. Mark sees the value in sharing his experience with young people who, like himself, want to see the world and harness their passion to help. Mark has kept his alumni connections alive by speaking at Rotary Clubs and involving international volunteers from many countries, including his alma mater, SIT of Vermont! SIT students immerse themselves into their host cultures with home stays, travel, independent study, and community outreach. These excited American students from a variety of universities like Barnard and F&M have certainly enjoyed their time with H4H at this outreach in Nyanga, while learning as much as the local kids, if not more!
Below, Coach WeWe, our Soccer 4 Hope ASCM (All Star Curriculum Manager), talks with West Coast News Agency Reporter Yungendree Naidoo about her role in developing innovative curriculum. S4H helps change the behaviors of young girls before they put themselves at risk and the value of women in soccer, especially with the increasing excitement around 2010 World Cup. WeWe tells stories of traveling to Zambia, the US, and Angola with team Soccer 4 Hope in the last two years, helping change the lives and attitudes of so many in their communities, through sport. According to Wewe, “You know what I'm more excited about. . . I mean the article, that's the start, but there is more coming your way and beyond. That is my oath for this year. . .to get the S4H efforts recognized...�
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February 2010 * Hoops 4 Hope
Calling All Social Entrepreneurs! Putting People skills to work at H4H
H4H Cycle Team 2010 Powered by Hope! The H4H Cycling Team soon will embark upon our 12th Cape Argus Cycle Tour, the world’s largest timed race that boasts a grueling 109km mountainous route that even Lance Armstrong is participating in for the first time this year. With our signature ‘Bike Hoop’ that was made by local welders in Langa Township and has made it around the Cape many times, we will be met with cheers, funny comments and dunks from the spectators and riders. We are happy to announce our team’s first cycle tour sponsorship, the Africa Centre presenting Spier Contemporary, who will provide us with a fresh new racing kit! Check out Spier’s art exhibitions, currently at City Hall. This will be the first year the H4H Cycle Team has not been the recipient of Ikamva Labantu’s homemade cycling jerseys. Though we loved the homemade pockets, the team is excited to look like pros this year! Our 2010 Team includes our SA director Thierry Kita who is a fixture on the roads and races around the Cape as the 6'6" tall former, professional basketball player. Look out for him and the rest of the H4H Team on their racing bikes, as they will be hard to miss.
Hailing from Newton, MA, David Micley is a student at Emory University who is spending this semester at the University of Cape Town and has been working as a volunteer with H4H. A self-proclaimed people-person and salesman, David intends on being our best fundraiser/male model, raising awareness and funds by selling our signature beaded bracelets and stylish H4H and S4H t-shirts to students and friends while here in Cape Town, and continuing his quest back in America! David has been inspired to support H4H and we look forward to reporting how many t-shirts this motivated young, social entrepreneur can sell to help keep the H4H programs alive! With over 800 foreign students alone on this campus of 20,000, we have high hopes! *And now a challenge to David and our other supporters: He/She who raises/sells the most $ for our organization by May 31st will get 2 tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup games, here in Cape Town!
Be sure to cheer us on when you see us coming. See you at the finish line, Lance!
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February 2010 * Hoops 4 Hope
Hoops 4 Hope is a leader in providing sustainable and innovative programs for the empowerment and positive change of youth in disadvantaged communities through basketball and soccer based education, health, and skills for life programs in southern Africa. Hoops 4 Hope (H4H) is a non-forprofit organization which gives over 10,000 children in South Africa and Zimbabwe every year a better chance to beat the odds in communities plagued by poverty, HIV/AIDS, drugs and crime. Founded in 1995, H4H combines the joy of sports programs with youth friendly curriculum that promotes leadership and responsibility, while empowering youngsters to thrive in the big leagues of life. Website: www.hoopsafrica.org Blog: www.h4hglobal.org Media Site: www.issuu.com/hoops4hope
Thierry Kita, South African Director
Molly Blair, Director of Development
Hoops 4 Hope
Hoops 4 Hope 34 Grove St. #1 NY, NY 10014 Mobile: 917.414.0810 Email: moblair28@gmail.com
PO Box 165
Mark Crandall, International Director and Founder Hoops 4 Hope
Cape Town, South Africa 8000 Mobile: (27) 82-728-9109 Email: thierrykitam@mac.com
Po Box 895 East Hampton, NY 11937
RICK GILL, CANADIAN DIRECTOR Hoops 4 Hope Unit #18 - 6195 168 St.
Mobile: 631.774.0571 Email: hoops4hope@mac.com
Ngoni Mukukula, Zimbabwean Director Hoops 4 Hope
Surrey, B.C.
19 Bates Street
Canada
Milton Park, Harare
V3S-3X9 Mobile: (778) 836-5114 Email: gill_rick@sd36.bc.ca
Mobile: (263)(91) 240-4067 Email: nmukukula@yahoo.com