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NBPA Foundation Launches ‘More Than a Game’

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, announced this week the creation of More Than a Game — a youth leadership program that will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa from July 31st through August 5th, 2018.

The program will take four students from the VOYCE Project, a youth organizing alliance for education and racial justice led by students of color, based in Chicago to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they will be joined by four students from Tshimong, a public-speaking and leadership organization based in Johannesburg. Together, the eight participants of the program will have the unique opportunity to explore the intersection between basketball and social activism in celebration of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela.

Participants will attend the third NBA Africa Game on August 4th and will have the chance to interact with current and former NBA players through community service events and NBPA programming. In addition to basketball, the program will also focus on social justice and leadership development.  Students will visit various historic sites and museums around Johannesburg, all rooted around the work and legacy of Nelson Mandela as an activist, philanthropist and civic leader.

The participants of the ‘More Than a Game’ program are:

From the USA, Chicago, Illinois:

  • Damayanti Wallace
  • Maya Camille Braber
  • Joshua Barker
  • Daniel (DJ) Davenport

From South Africa:

  • Madzanga Ramabulana (Limpopo)
  • Naledi Sinandile (Western Cape)
  • Sipho Thanjekwayo (Gauteng)
  • Siyabonga Mtshali (KZN)

“Nelson Mandela understood the role that sports could play in building a just and fair society. We are excited to join with these students in celebrating his life and his legacy.” — Sherrie Deans, NBPA Foundation Executive Director

Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, “We are thrilled to be involved in this initiative which affirms our position as trusted conveners of dialogue focusing on key issues that impact on societal justice, shared values, and the collective prosperity of all South Africans through the sport of basketball. This is the second year we work with the NBA and we are truly grateful for this partnership and look forward to it growing from strength to strength”

Nelson Mandela believed in the power of young people and said, “Young people are capable, when aroused, of bringing down the towers of oppression and raising the banners of freedom.”

More Than a Game’ is exactly that – it is a conduit for dialogue and a significant tool for change. The NBPA Foundation together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation look forward to this exchange of ideas with youths from the two countries as a small step towards a better tomorrow.

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