Junior Basketball Community Groups

We have been repeatedly told by people of wisdom and elders at some point of our lives that the future of the human kind depends on the priorities and aspirations of the upcoming generation. If that is true then we should look at the world today which, according to the above statement, reflects our priorities and aspirations…it doesn’t look good, does it?

With that in mind, ALSA has set up Junior Basketball Community Groups comprising of youngsters mostly from low income areas with little or no access to resources or quality coaching and nurturing in basketball. The desire and determination in these children has touched many ALSA Volunteer Program Members mostly elite players who have taken upon themselves to make a difference in one way or the other by sharing their free time to coach the kids, facilitate basketball camps and clinics organized by ALSA for these kids, help source for equippment such as basketballs, shoes, t-shirts, renovating courts, and sharing experiences and life skills with them.

How Can I Get Involved?

You are the difference you want to see. This is the driving force behind ALSA, which we are quick to share with anyone wishing to contribute to our programs or work with us.

1. Can you Coach Basketball?
Most of the Junior Basketball Community Groups have local representatives with basic knowlegde of the game of basketball and little or no resources but have the desire to help the children realise their sporting aspirations and keep them away from the vices in thier respective communities. These coaches are the local representatives for the teams and all activities are conducted through them. As ALSA we our aim is to secure resources such as basketballs, shoes, uniforms and teaching aids for the teams and coaces. Also, we come up with camps, clinics and tournaments for these children as a way of rewarding their efforts in training, exposing them to other teams and peers, and engaging them in community service activities to create a sense of responsibility to ther communities.
What to Do: All you need to do is to join a local representative in a trainig session, share your coaching skills with both the local coach and the kids or adopt a junior basketball community group. You may also take some of your players with you and conduct a mini clinic at a junior basketball community group. This may doulble up as a community service for your players, team and school. You have caoching materials that you want to dispose? Trust me, even the book used in the 80s will make a difference to ALSA, they are not wrong when they say "one man's trash is another man's treasure" Try US! [EMAIL: volunteer@alsabasketball.co.ke]

2. Donate or Recommend ALSA for Equipment Donation
When you take an 8 hour journey to go conduct a basketball clinic and find girls and boys waiting for you with no equipment, shoes, or kits but with enthusiasm, desire and energy to learn and play the game, then you will realize how much we take things for granted when you tell your coach you cannot practice because you forgot your shoes, your kit is at the laundry, your shoe is worn out or torn, your shoes are tight fitting, or you are late because the balls had not been brought to the court etc. ALSA identifies the communities in need and seeks to secure resources to be allocated to the children's teams in these communities. Although we have so far secured only drops of items, we have managed to send them to where they are needed the most and the impact is overwhelming to the kids and we as the facilitators.
What to Do: Do you have old or used (in usable condition) basketball kits, balls or materials that you are looking to dispose off? Do you know someone looking to free up space in their equipment store or warehouse by disposing off excess basketball materials? Are you looking for a community service or corporate social resposnibility activity? Why not donate basketball uniform and relevant equipment to the ALSA Junior Basketball Community Groups? If you purchase the uniforms, you are free to brand your organization name on the uniforms in recognition for your support. It is true "one man's trash is another man's treasure" Try Us! [EMAIL: volunteer@alsabasketball.co.ke]

3. Points-For-Cash
This is a fund raisning initiative started by Abel Nson after participating in JaMalaria Basketball Camp and seeing the harsh conditions under which the children play basketball. Nson, who plays for U.S International University donated 2 dollars for every point he scored in the game aginst University of Nairobi, Terror. He scored 23 points and donated 46 USD enough to buy 6 pairs of second hand shoes for Kariorkor Saints, his Junior Basketball Community Group of choice.
What to Do: The goal is to put a money figure on the points you will score as an individual or team in a particular game and convert the points into cash at the rate or figure you had placed for yourself. e.g DONATE 10 DOLLARS FOR EVERY POINT YOU SCORE IN THE GAME AGAINST TEAM DRUGS. Your will to make a difference. Suprise Yourself! [EMAIL: volunteer@alsabasketball.co.ke]

JaMalaria Initiative