#GROW SEEDS! !
SPORTS FOR EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SENEGAL!
SPORTS ENVOY PROGRAM – DAKAR & THIES SENEGAL –! August 24 - 27, 2012!
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The U.S. Department of State’s SportsUnited division partnered with the NBA, the WNBA, Senegalese based nonprofit SEEDS (Sports for Education and Economic Development in Senegal), and the US Embassy in Dakar to host three days of co-ed, youth basketball clinics to engage underserved youth in the cities of Dakar and Thies.!
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Sports Envoys C.J. Watson, Brooklyn Nets, and Chamique Holdsclaw, WNBA Legend, traveled to Senegal to participate in the Sports Envoy program to help inspire Senegalese youth on and off the court. C.J. and Chamique also participated in cultural enrichment activities (Goree Island, Dakar City Tour) in Senegal and were honored guests at US Ambassador, Lewis Lukens, home. !
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BASKETBALL CLINICS SATURDAY, August 25th -- SEEDS Academy (Thies, Senegal)!
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C.J. Watson and Chamique Holdsclaw traveled from Dakar to SEEDS Academy facility in Thies to hold basketball and leadership development clinics. The Sports Envoys worked with 100 non-elite youth, ages 9-18 (50 boys / 50 girls), across two morning sessions and with 15 elite SEEDS campers in the afternoon session. !
SUNDAY, August 26th -- ISD (International School in Dakar)! !
On the second day of clinics, C.J. and Chamique hosted two sessions of basketball and leadership development clinics at ISD with 100 non-elite youth, ages 9-18 (50 boys / 50 girls) from the underserved SICAP community in Dakar.! !
MONDAY, August 26th -- ISD (International School in Dakar)!
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On the final day of clinics, C.J. and Chamique returned to the ISD school and hosted one session of basketball and leadership development clinics with 60 non-elite youth, ages 9-18 (30 boys / 30 girls) from the underserved Ouakam community in Dakar.
CULTURAL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES | EVENTS !
FRIDAY, August 24th -- Goree Island!
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Upon arrival to Senegal, Sports Envoys, C.J. Watson and Chamique Holdsclaw, and SEEDS volunteers traveled to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Goree Island. The site has great historical importance, as many West Africans were sent into slavery in the Americas, leaving from this point. !
SUNDAY, August 26th -- Reception at the home of Ambassador Lewis Lukens! !
After a long day of clinics, C.J. and Chamique, SEEDS staff and volunteers, and about 100 sports and cultural contacts were invited to U.S. Ambassador, Lewis Lukens, home to welcome the envoys to Senegal. ! !
MONDAY, August 26th -- Press Conference at the U.S. Embassy, Mbacke Conference Room! The U.S. Embassy hosted a press conference for local media to interview the Envoys, C.J. and Chamique, SEEDS Executive Director in Senegal, Cheikh Fall, NBA Clinician, Patrick Engelbrecht, and Kristin Kane from the U.S. Embassy. The press conference panel touched on topics such as: sport and development, gender equality, and cultural exchange through the power of sports.
THE SPORTS UNITED PROGRAM IN SENEGAL SERVED OVER 220 Youth in 3 days of basketball clinics!
A LOOK AT OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNER | SEEDS Overview: SEEDS is a 501(c)3 youth education sports non-profit that uses basketball as a hook to engage underserved Senegalese youth in educational opportunities. SEEDS serves over 300 Senegalese youth annually through basketball clinics, leadership development and educational programming. SEEDS core program, SEEDS Academy, is a college preparatory boarding school (grades 9-12) that provides Senegalese boys with a place to live, study, and train in basketball year-round. Mission: SEEDS seeks to use sports as a vehicle to inspire, empower and support the holistic development of promising African youth, preparing them to become global citizens and lead positive transformation in Senegal, Africa and the world. SEEDS Success: Since its inception in 2002, SEEDS impact has been profound: • Fourty-two (42) SEEDS student-athletes have been accepted to U.S. high schools and colleges • U.S. placed SEEDS student-athletes have maintained a 100% high school graduation rate and a 100% college graduation rate Leadership: Noah Levine, Executive Director – Global Brian Benjamin, Director of Operations – U.S. Cheikh Fall, Executive Director – Senegal Assane Badj, Director of Operations – Senegal Elena Perez, Director of Marketing and Communications – Global Mactar Ndiaye, Director of Marketing and Communications – Senegal
MORE THAN 30 BASKETBALLS WERE DONATED TO LOCAL YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUES!
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YEAR III: IT’S YOUR SERVE
THERECAP 12.08.11 @ 82MERCER PING PONG FOR CHARITY
#GROW SEEDS! !
SPORTS FOR EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SENEGAL!