Basketball for Good (Papua New Guinea)

Basketball for Good’s mission is to address the role of sports, in particular basketball, in the fields of community-building, education, women’s empowerment, health and wellbeing.

The goal of Basketball for Good initiatives is to improve the governance of national federations to empower them to deliver safe, inclusive high-quality basketball programs that enable people to develop as healthy, contributing members of their communities. 

The key activities of Basketball for Good include Hoops for Health, Pikinini Hoops, Mum’s a Hero, and Twilight Basketball. Below we discuss the goals and objectives of each program:

HOOPS FOR HEALTH

The Hoops for Health program focuses on promoting a healthy and active lifestyle while introducing youth to basketball in a fun way. The curriculum aligns with the World Health Organization’s healthy schools program and strengthens the links between classroom activities and the coaching clinics, making it more appealing to teachers.

Hoops for Health (H4H) has developed into an important program in growing the number of people participating in basketball activities. With a high incidence of premature deaths in Oceania due to lifestyle factors, H4H aims to instil good healthy habits from a young age.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) expanded its Hoops for Health programs into various locations outside of Port Moresby including Daru, Bougainville, Kerema, Walapepe and Daugo Island. The PNG Hoops for Health program is supported by the Basektball Federation of PNG (BFPNG) partnership with Business for Health, a collaboration focused on educating and raising the participants’ awareness regarding tuberculosis.

The program also provides opportunities for federation staff members and volunteer coaches to work on projects that can give them the experience they need to learn and manage programs. Hoops for Health coach alumni have also used their experience with the program to advance their careers in other sectors.

PIKININI HOOPS

BFPNG’s Pikinini Hoops is the main grassroots development program of BFPNG and incorporates Basketball for Good strategy into the sessions that focus on promoting an active and healthy lifestyle.

The program is an after-school basketball clinic designed to teach the fundamentals of basketball to youth. This includes 3x3 and a mixed competition to help develop confidence in participants, especially young girls.

MUM’S A HERO  

Many Oceania nations have a traditional approach to male and female roles in their villages. The Mum’s a Hero Program is designed to support women and children by providing a safe environment that encourages them to learn and take a more active role in society, ultimately empowering them. 

BFPNG partners with the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation to promote and educate participants about a healthy lifestyle. BFPNG has also partnered with Marie Stopes International to deliver classroom information regarding family planning and reproductive health issues to program participants.  

TWILIGHT BASKETBALL

The Twilight Basketball program aids social inclusion by providing an opportunity to partner with local police to break down barriers between youth and the authorities. This in turn helps reduce crime by bringing communities together on the court and off the streets.

The highly popular Friday night activity is held at the Taurama Centre in Port Moresby, PNG’s capital. Twilight provides an open gym for basketball games where all ages and genders are welcomed.

BFPNG organise drills, 3x3 and basketball games for all who attend each week, with teams created on the night, enabling children to participate with those from different communities. Local police participate through playing, coaching and officiating, while each week a different non-government organisation (NGO) brings their expertise to raise awareness on social and health issues.

The partnership with the local police has given youth in the local settlements a new relationship with authorities. It has been found that Twilight Basketball breaks down barriers in the social class system it is hoped that the continued growth of the bond between participants and authorities will lead to a more harmonious community.