#100hoops campaign
Context
Studies have shown the direct link between active lifestyle, and reduced incidents of crime and substance abuse among the youth by way of development of life skills and critical thinking. Moreover, access to sports programmes have shown to improve academic outcomes around the globe. More recently, the National Education Policy 2020 highlighted the importance of sports by making it a part-and-parcel of the school education system as opposed to extra-curricular consideration given to sports wherein activities either happened once or twice a week or after academic hours. Historically, civilized nations of the world always have paid attention to the importance and role of sports in developing a society.
Despite all the proven benefits of sports, less than 1% of the population of India under 35 years of age has any access to organized sport and less than 10% of all children have access to a playground (Dasra, Power of Play, 2014). Access to sports infrastructure is the leading cause for the subpar grassroot development of sports in our country. Children in rural and semi-urban geographies are especially more vulnerable to physical and mental abuse, both in and outside their homes. Drug abuse, gang affiliations, domestic violence, improper nutrition are just some of the many challenges that loom over these children. Limited living spaces affect normal motor development in these children as well. These children need opportunities and access to activities that will help them stay off the wrong course, develop socio-emotional skills and be prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
The #100hoops Project
To bridge the gap in access to organised sports and to increase the reach of basketball, especially in the rural regions, Dribble Academy Foundation aims to install basketball hoops in 100 villages, impacting over 100,000 children.
DAF’s approach to the project
1. Identifying potential villages
DAF team will shortlist villages on the basis of highest potential for impact, feasibility of intervention and support from the local administration.
2. Fundraising & vendor onboarding
DAF will raise funds through retail and corporate funders. Vendors for construction will be onboarded after thorough quality checks.
3. Engagement with the village administration
Proactive engagement with the local administration will help in driving leadership buying and also understanding the context of the village.
4. Community engagement
Engagement with the village schools and parents will be critical in ensuring the sustainability of the project.
5. Finalising site of construction
With the inputs from the community and the local administration, DAF would evaluate and finalize a school, space or community centre for setting up the hoop.
6. Hoop setup
The hoop will be made using durable and high quality materials and craftsmanship.
7. Driving sustainability
DAF will conduct workshops for the children in the area, and identify and train potential coaches who can drive the sports culture in the village.
Impact
With the track record of impacting children from underserved communities, Dribble Academy can vouch for the following benefits of having accessible basketball hoops in rural and semi-urban areas.
- Increases quality of life of children: Easy access to sports will exponentially enhance the quality of life of these children by ensuring a healthy lifestyle and improving their immunity. Improvement in physical activities in social settings has also shown to improve children’s cognitive abilities, consequently improving their academic performance as well.
- Improves life skills in children: By regularly coming on court, the children realizes important life skills such as collaboration, empathy, discipline, and resilience.
- Decreases incidence of crime: Studies have also shown that better access to sports decreases the incidence of crime and violence in an area, especially those which involve adolescents and youth. The more time the children spend on the courts, the lesser time they are exposed to crime-related activities and threats.
- Fosters future athletes: Most basketball superstars realized their talents in their local parks. In India, most cricket and football stars grew playing their favorite sports in their neighbourhoods and districts. Inadequate access to basketball courts is also the primary reason for the lack of popularity of the sport in our country. By providing opportunities to access basketball easily, we pave way for the future of Indian basketball through the children of Noida. Moreover, a new format of Basketball called 3X3 Basketball has been approved for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and is becoming a popular sport across the World .
- Minimum maintenance cost: Installing basketball hoops is a one time cost with very negligible maintenance costs in the long run. Iron poles are known to survive decades without any major repairs or refurbishments. The life of a concrete court and fiberglass poles and boards is 7-10 years.
- Greater sense of development among the local residents: Having new basketball hoops helps uplift the image of the neighbourhood, providing a sense of development among the residents. This also fosters their trust in the works of the government authorities along with a greater pride of being part of that locality.
Want to start your own campaign. ?
One of our star volunteers, Aarohi Gupta, not only used her musical talents to engage our students with music but also ran a very successful campaign with her music video “Sapno ki Udaan”. Give it a look and let us know what you think