Closing of the 3rd edition of the Junior NBA & AFD Basketball Experience program

The program has reached, by 2022, more than 4,000 boys and girls through nearly 1,000 basketball workshops and practical skills seminars

ZENATA, MOROCCO, July 7, 2022 – NBA Afrique, the French Development Agency (AFD), the Public and Solidarity Development Bank of France committed to financing and technical assistance for projects in developing countries, today celebrated the closing of the NBA & AFD Basketball Experience Junior Program in Morocco.

On this occasion, an event was organized on the basketball court of the Zenata Coastal Sports Course, belonging to the Zenata Development Society (SAZ). Objective: to promote the development of local youth through sport.

On the program of this event, a basketball clinic, the best boys and girls matches, and a seminar on practical skills called “life skills” for the benefit of 150 boys and girls aged 12 to 18 belonging to the local community.

The Managing Director of NBA Africa, Mr. Victor Williams, Morocco The Managing Director of the French Development Agency, Mr. Mihoub Mezouaghi, the representative of the Ministry of National Education, and the Managing Director of Zenata Development Company, Mohamed Amine El Hajhouj, sent messages to young people encouraging them to continue to participate actively in the program.

The Jr.NBA & AFD Basketball Experience, a series of basketball workshops promoting the social inclusion of young people from Casablanca and Zenata, took place between January and July. The program has reached more than 4,000 boys and girls from 50 schools in Greater Casablanca through nearly 1,000 practical skills basketball workshops and seminars focusing on the fundamentals of basketball, skill development, citizenship and gender equality.

The Managing Director of AFD Morocco, Mr. Mihoub Mezouaghi, said: “This program, in partnership with NBA Africa, demonstrates our common desire to make sport a tool for promoting sustainable development and social cohesion in Morocco. The Basketball Experience program will help young people to flourish through the practice of basketball in the schools of Casablanca and Zenata and on the field. »

“NBA Africa is committed to positively impacting the lives of young people across the continent through basketball and the impact of the Jr. NBA & AFD Basketball Experience program for young boys and girls in Morocco is very encouraging. » said Mr. Victor Williams, General Manager of NBA Africa.

“We are grateful to have a partner like AFD who shares our faith in the transformative power of sport and we hope to expand our partnership and reach more young people in other countries on the continent in the near future. »

The Jr NBA & AFD Basketball Experience program, supported by the IDMAJ District Association, is part of Zenata and Casablanca’s actions to raise awareness among Moroccan youth about sustainable development, citizenship and women’s equality through the sport.

The launch of the program and the inauguration of the Zenata basketball court took place in 2019, in the presence of the 2011 NBA champion Ian Mahinmi. Field activities were suspended until 2020 due to restrictions linked to the health crisis, but they have since resumed, much better.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s worldwide basketball program for boys and girls, teaches basic skills called “life skills” as well as the essential values ​​of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level to help improve the basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. The junior program The NBA is established in 15 African countries, including Morocco.

AFD supports France’s conviction that sport is a factor in economic and social development. It is both a real economic driver in terms of wealth and job creation, as well as a tool for social ties and cohesion, and a vector of equality between women and men. AFD is also a partner of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and supported the inaugural season of the BAL, which took place in Kigali, Rwanda in May.

African fans can follow the NBA on Facebook (NBA Africa), Instagram (nbaafricaofficial), Twitter (@NBA_Africa) and YouTube (NBA Africa). Fans can also download the NBA app, the official NBA app, to get news and updates, scores, stats, schedules, videos and more.

About AFD

The French Development Agency (AFD) implements French policy in terms of development and international solidarity. Through its public sector and NGO financing activities, its work and research publications (AFD Editions), training on sustainable development (AFD Campus) and awareness-raising in France, it finances, supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer and more resilient world.

We are building shared solutions with our partners, with and for the populations of the South. Our teams are involved in more than 4,000 projects in the field, overseas, in 115 countries and in crisis areas, for the common good – climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality, education or health. We thus contribute to the commitment of France and the French in favor of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For a common world.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media company built around four professional sports leagues: National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, NBA G League and NBA 2K League. The NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) also jointly manage the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programs available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise on sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA teams at the start of the 2021-22 season had a record 121 international players from 40 countries. NBA Digital’s businesses include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.

rThe NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers worldwide across all league platforms, teams and players. Through NBA Cares, the league tackles important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth service organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.