Tag has established Hoops for Kids, a basketball-based youth empowerment project, in slums and communities of two major cities in Kenya — Nairobi and Kisumu —to instill vital life skills in at-risk and vulnerable youth. With the support of Kids Connect Network, for the last three years more than 15,000 children in Kenya and over 10,000 children in Israel have benefited from our combined life-skills education and Basketball training.

The project features after-school centers, educational basketball clinics and youth mentoring, along with providing athletic equipment and coaching. Participants become less vulnerable to social ills and raise the life aspirations. As a result, they exhibit marked improvement in their school attendance and academic performance.

Hoops for Kids has significantly expanded in the last year, thanks to the support of Jochnick Foundation. We have extended our reach to include 5 additional locations across Kenya, doubling the number of youth at risk benefiting from this program. We shall also be increasing our impact through developing a uniquely integrated training program for youth workers and teachers that incorporates life-skills training, sports coaching, and life coaching, which we plan to have formally accredited.

Now, with the support of the Ferguson Trust, we have launched Hey-Kenya, helping our youth with career guidance, employability skills, and linkages to job and education training. Together with our on-the-ground partners, we shall be supporting young people with access to technology skills, apprenticeship programs and a range of vocational training opportunities.