Many young kids in the society today are ambitious regardless of the challenges they might face while growing up.
The case of young kids chasing their dreams is not any different with the many kids in the slum area of Korogocho in Nairobi Kenya who use sports to shape up their future a platform provided to them by St. Johns Sports society in their area which was formed by the St.John's Catholic Church in Korogocho.
The St.Johns Sports Society has brought light in the future of many kids in the informal settlement area through sports and has given the young kids a baseline to venture into various sports such as Football, Karate ,boxing Taekwondo,netball ,handball and the most recent one being basketball.
Hoops For Kids Korogocho being the newest sporting activity in the St Johns Sports Society it has had major impacts on the lives of many kids in the area through their Patrons and Head Coaches Brian Busaka and Paul Swagi.
``The young basketball team is not only set to provide basketball skills to the kids but also life skills and mentorship programmes to the young kids" head coach Brian Busaka explained.
The team was formed 5 years ago and has since then achieved its purpose of empowering young kids into working hard so as to attain a better future not only through sports but in education as well.
With a total of 145 kids the Hoops for Kids Korogocho has a senior team as well which consists of 30 players and participates in the KSBC basketball league. The primary section comprises young boys and girls who are aged between 9 to 14years as the secondary section has kids above 16 years.
The club's patrons and other technical members of the team have successfully assisted some members of their club in gaining scholarships in various High Schools and Universities across the country.
With the massive positive impact it has had on kids ,Hoops For Kids Korogocho has attracted a number of investors and well wishers within and outside the country with Safaricom foundation being one of them after they funded the club with Playing/training Kits and some balls to keep the club running much more efficiently.
The most recent investors that the club attracted were The Giants of Africa which is a youth basketball programme in Africa that is run by the Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri. After an impression of positivity in the game of basketball by the Hoops For Kids Korogocho, Giants of Africa promised to build the young club a new basketball court, a move that has left the club's patrons and coaches Brian Busaka and Paul Swagi happy .
``With such fundings and assistance from such big brands the Hoops For Kids Korogocho will keep growing and shaping the future of the next generation through the game of basketball." coach Brian said.