EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL AND DOGUS ROLL OUT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME

The collaboration between Euroleague Basketball and the Dogus Group aims to promote sport as a tool for integration, and both organisations have joined forces at an international level to improve the lives of those in need or at risk of exclusion.

Ten physical education teachers trained at a masterclass in Istanbul, organized as part of the One Team-Stay in the Game educational programme, have successfully delivered an eight-week curriculum to their students. The Programme was designed to work with vulnerable young people from Turkish public schools to promote positive life skills, equipping them to stay away from negative influences and harmful habits.

On 18 March, two teachers from each of the five schools (all of which had their basketball courts renovated as part of the “Stay in the Game” platform) received training from Euroleague coaches at the masterclass event, which equipped them with the skills to deliver the program to their students. Teachers that attended the program taught what they learned directly to 250 students through the eight-week program in their respective schools, and indirectly to 3,000 more through delivery with other classes and teachers.

In the last part of the eight-week program, students that attended the sessions had the chance to visit the Ayhan Şahenk Sport Complex, which included an access-all, all-areas tour including locker rooms and pressrooms. During the tour, the students were lucky to meet Darüşşafaka Doğuş players Erwin Dudley and Oğuz Savaş who play in the Euroleague.

"We are very happy with the very positive results coming from this first One Team Education Programme that was tailor-made for our partner Dogus Group’s social program Stay in the Game,” Ms. Roser Queralto, Chief Business Development Officer at Euroleague Basketball, said. “One Team aims to provide life skills for all those in need and having done so for these kids and through their teachers means a lot to us."

"Stay in the Game is encouraging children to participate in sports to leave a legacy of more active children who are staying away from negative influences, antisocial behaviours and bad habits,” Mrs. Selin Koçak, Head of CSR at Doğuş Group, said. “Our journey started in Turkey, and has continued to evolve in European cities thanks to our collaboration with One Team Education Programme. We are certainly delightful to provide both new sports fields and life skills for more children."

Key facts:

- While participants ranged in age between 9 and 14 years old, the majority were aged 12 to 14 (79%).
- Participation was very evenly spread across genders with 53% boys and 47% girls in attendance across all sessions.
- The programme focused on four key themes: Communication, Confidence, Decision-Making and Leadership.

Communication

There was a significant behaviour shift over the course as participants started to understand the importance of doing what they say they would do and how to interpret another person’s body language.

Confidence

The biggest improvement around confidence came when participants were asked if they felt confident making their own decisions under pressure.

Decision-Making

Participants felt they had substantially greater ability to make their own decisions without being influenced by others, found it easier to identify positive opportunities, and had a stronger understanding of how decisions they make can influence others – all as a consequence of the programme.

Leadership

There was a substantial shift in knowledge around participants knowing how to step into leadership positions; understanding how to use life experiences to make positive decisions; and their value and contribution to a team situation.