During my years of playing professional basketball overseas, I had the pleasure of visiting Cape Town for a month in 2005 where I met Thierry Kita and some other members of the Hoops4Hope staff. I was immediately moved and inspired by the guidance and life skills being taught by the organization, and I vowed to help in my own small way. I'm now living in San Francisco, California and I continue to spread the word about the amazing collective that makes H4H what it is today. I hope to see continued success and further involvement in the years to come. All my best!!!
Marek Ondera

Kevin Carroll
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Sport for a Better World Competition
Mark + H4H team,
A BIG Congratulations on all of your efforts to date! Your approach is commendable & your success is a direct reflection of the time, dedication, and commitment that your team members/coaches willingly invest in the program and the young people they reach out to. FYI, I was recently on a panel discussion,sponsored by Nike at the NBA All-Star festivities in Las Vegas, with Bobbito Garcia. It's great to see that your program is getting recognition from hoops officiandos, like Bobbito, out in the world.

Also, I wanted to alert you all to a kindred spirit out there in Africa that shares the same belief in the power of hoops to transform lives. His name is Marshall Cho and he is doing his work out of Mozambique. His efforts are in the early stages but, he is gaining some great momentum in Moz and is always looking for more encouragement and partners. Also, for the past two summers he participated in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders effort in Africa. Please contact him at: marshallcho@gmail.com.
I know he would really appreciate the connection and it would allow you all to have another fantastic ally. Continued success!

I was involved with H4H when they began in Zimbabwe and saw them sponsor a team from the ghetto to enter the main basketball league in Zimbabwe. The team became a major contender and a source of pride for this subrb of less priviledged people.
The idea of providing sneakers, training and sponsorship did not only build a basketball team but gave a lot of kids hope. In some of these communities when kids are neglected because parents cannot get enough a chance to join a team like this gave kids an alternative from crime, abuse and loneliness. They became part of another family where they were cared for, respected and wanted. This became something positive to look forward to as the fellowship experienced helped keep kids in a positive state of mind. This is a programme that I will continue to support and hope will be spread to other less priviledged neighbourhoods.

This mark my second year involve with the organization. Since from day one i have enjoy, shared, teached, coaches and made good friends with the children from different community. Being able to give back to my community seeing the challenges and lifestyle we live in made me to be proad of join the organisation. I start as the volunteer and worked my way up in becoming the program coordinator goes to show that the is a room for youth development within H4H.The biggest change that H4H does is teaching this youth people principle of life and making sure they live positive lifestyle and are goal orietated not forggeting the biggest world's crisis which is HIV and AIDS. Joinig H4H has made feel good cause i am making a difference in my community and around africa. To all those who have been supporting and involve with H4H keep up the good-work. "HOOPS 4 HOPE IS MORE FIRE"

Last March I was lucky enough to go on a university sponsored trip to Cape Town where 5 other students and I were sent to understand the role of sport and the way it is being used to deal with many of South Africa's urgent issues. About halfway through our trip we were lucky enough to meet up with Mark and some of the All-Stars from the Hoops 4 Hope (H4H) program. Our time with Mark and the All-Stars, as well as our visit to a H4H event in the township of Nyanga, brought a true sense of awareness and awakening to all members of our group. Far removed from the touristy shops and restaurants, and commercial vibrance of other, more wealthy, parts of Cape Town, our short time in Nyanga with the H4H team brought an unexpected sense of humanity and compassion to our group. Witnessing first hand the impact and effect H4H had on primary school children in Nyanga proved how important and necessary organizations such as H4H truly are. What aspects of a healthy childhood these children may miss out on during other parts of their day, are made up for when they participate in H4H activities, where they learn skills and habits that may ultimately save their lives. One of the most powerful and long-lasting images that has stuck with me from my trip to Cape Town is the image of these children dribbling down the court and in between chairs with huge smiles on their faces, experiencing at the same time the natural joy of playing basketball and the importance of learning about HIV/AIDS. H4H is providing a vital service to the children of South Africa and I hope I can play a role in providing that service in the future.

- Kenny Montalbano

I just wanted to make a quick comment on the program Mr. Crandall is running and how truly amazing it is. I have not been intricately invovled in hoops for hope by any means, by rather learned of it in a magazine article and decided i needed to help out at one of the charity events. Not knowing what to expect when I went in, i was introduced to a truly thankful man for all the help he was getting from volunteers, and even more excited that so many people were following his lead to promote this program, not because of self gratifiaction, but for the quality of life it was bringing so many of those who need it most. To anyone readign this, please strongly consider getting invovled with this program on any level you feel necessary, because this is a prime example of how through such a common and simple thing as the love of sports, relationships and thier possibilities are endless, especially when the possibilities include saving the lives of fellow children in need.

I was greatly impacted by the work of Mark Crandall and Hoops 4 Hope after seeing a special segment on ESPN in 2005. As a sneaker collector and basketball coach, this initiative touched me personally. I immediately contacted the program and was given loads of information to share with my team. Since then, we have organized two successful school-wide sneaker drives in Atlanta, GA and plan to continue this as an annual event. It's natural to reach out to our own community, but it's an incredible feeling to help young people provide a global service. Hoops 4 Hope has provided us with that opportunity and it is greatly appreciated. I would love to become more involved one day.

Mekia Troy
Creekside High School
Head Girls' Basketball Coach

i joined the Hoops 4 Hope family in 2001 and since then i've appriciated it's existance. growing up in the streets oh Harare is not easy and when you are young, imature and there is a lot to life that you don't know except working up in the morning and going to school you are in danger. the kids are Vulnerable to all the ills in the streets. hoops 4 hope takes them off the streets and provides a safe playing environment where kids can be kids. thanks to whole hoops 4 hope family, you are true life savers.

I was able to spend 5 months volunteering with Hoops 4 Hope in Cape Town this past spring of 2007. I also had the opportunity to visit the H4H program in Zimbabwe. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have met, spoken with, and worked with Mark Crandall, Thierry Kita (Director of H4H South Africa), and Ngoni Mukukula (Director of H4H Zimbabwe). These three men are some the most dedicated, hard-working, community-minded men I have ever met. I have infinite respect for their vision and the work they do every day in effort to get closer and closer to realizing this vision.

It is not hard to see that these three men are incredibly different in their demeanors and in turn, their management styles. However, they share a belief in the potential of people, the power of sport, and the possibility for positive change that binds them and those who are fortunate enough to work with them. If asked, though, I am positive that all three of these directors would say they are the lucky ones - it is hard not to be inspired when you witness the spirit and commitment with which Kita’s and Ngoni’s All-Stars and MVPs approach their task of teaching healthy living to the youth within their communities. I have witnessed these staff members and volunteers coach, be coached, teach, learn, challenge, and be challenged on a daily basis. With Kita’s and Ngoni’s tireless encouragement, these young adults take every opportunity to become better, stronger leaders and healthier, smarter people because they know that it will only make them that much more fit to help their communities’ conquer the numerous challenges that they face.

I think about what an enormously positive impact my experience with Hoops 4 Hope had on me (an American college graduate) and how much my life has changed because of H4H; it is amazing to think what Hoops 4 Hope is doing for children within these extremely impoverished neighborhoods who grow up within the Hoops 4 Hope program. These children are flocking to make-shift basketball courts to learn a sport they barely know because of Hoops 4 Hope. They are spending hours after school learning to dribble, to pass, a lay-up, and the importance of teamwork. More importantly, during these physically healthy activities they are also talking with their coaches about peer pressure, gang violence, gender equality, and HIV/AIDs – topics that must be addressed at a young age but are often avoided in the classroom and in the household. Even those children who only get a visit from the Hoops 4 Hope crew once or twice a year are constantly asking when H4H is coming back and when will they get to play basketball everyday after school. The pure joy on the children’s faces when they have made their first lay-up, while they are singing and dancing to one of the many H4H anthems, or when they are receiving praise from one of their All-Stars or MVPs is the truest testament to the power and potential repercussions of this wonderful program.

I stand by the hopes, dreams, and pursuits of Hoops 4 Hope one hundred percent. Each and every day (yes, even weekends and holidays) the amazing people who make up this organization are working hard to take steps towards a better, healthier Africa. Indeed, they have their fair share of obstacles and challenges, but they face these head on and will most certainly defeat them in good time. They do so much with so little, and I can only imagine what they could accomplish as soon as the word spreads and they receive the support they

I would like to thank everyone who has told their stories and praised us with so many kind words. It is an affirmation of our hard work and that we have truly built a family of people who have been touched, given to others and grown themselves over the years.

But doing good things and making positive change in this world is not easy, often a thankless job that can make you feel good at the end of the day, but it comes with much sacrifice. For every ten doors you knock on for help, nine get closed. And for every group represented in this competition, there are twenty more who don’t have access to a computer or may never get recognized or the support they deserve. This format is a rare opportunity to communicate and share our compassion, creativity and knowledge with each other so that we can get closer to helping more people in effective ways.

So I invite my colleagues and everyone to explore the different fields in this site, to cross pollinate our ideas with the many other innovative people and projects happening around the world today. I am personally impressed with the Sadili Oval tennis program and their community driven sports center, the Boxgirls Roadwork program that is breaking down barriers and building up women, and other projects that are using cell phones, video games, and participatory videos to educate and share their work.

H4H was started with an idea, commitment, leading by example, and networking with those who truly care. But we are by no means at the point to say our work is done, it has actually just begun. One of my favorite saying “not reinventing the wheel,” so we all need to communicate and unite, so others do not have to make the same mistakes we have made in the pursuit of just giving children and people the most basic human rights they deserve.

Mark

Mark Crandall
Hoops 4 Hope
hoops4hope@mac.com
www.hoopsafrica.org

This past summer I spent 7 weeks in Cape Town working with Hoops 4 Hope. Any organization's success is dependent on the people within the organization. H4H is so successful at its goal teaching township children sports and life skills because the people, from Kita to the all-stars and mvps are all amazing. From the top down in this organization everyone is passionate, creative, energetic (I must emphasize energetic because as a 21 year old college student, I found myself unusally worn out), and intelligent. I have never experienced so much talent and potential in one organization. H4H has not touched the surface of its possibilities. It can become something so much greater no only in South Africa but in other parts of Africa.

I like my roommate Jordan too regret the minute amount of time I spent with H4H. I can honestly say that my summer with H4H changed my life. I have never seen so much hope in individuals. Hope for their communities to become better. Hope that their efforts will actually make a difference.

I must return to the people of H4H. The All-stars truely are the best asset of the organization. LaLa, Thabo, Babes, Zwai, Thandiswa, Davina, Gwina, Azola, Sherman open their arms to volunteers like myself, and within days you feel like you are apart of the H4H family. This feeling of family is precisely the reason why you regret leaving. I now have family in South Africa.

Lastly I must write about the big boss man, Kita. Kita lets you know as a volunteer from the first day you arrive that you are there to make a difference, add something to H4H that they never had. Kita turns all of his volunteers into difference makers. The same as he has done with the All-stars and MVPs of Hoops 4 Hope.

Hoops for Hope is a truly inspiring organization. I feel very fortunate to have been able to learn about the value the programs offer. Keep up the amazing work!

Megan Davis

I First met Mark at Linge Primary School while i was an Mvp, i was still at school on that time playing Basketball for a team also on that time, Hoops 4 Hope helps me in a different way couse i now know how to look after my little sister and brother and also to the kids i coached, they sometime come to me looking for adviced and to those are living to my hood their parents come and ask me to talk with their kids with some ladies staff as you know some of kids has stay with their fathers only so its difficult for them to speak with their girls.

In 2006 i was nominated as a life skills coordinator which was a great oppotunity for me,becouse i was given a chance to write my own lessons about what i see in different community and i know im making a big diference to the kids also to some of the people i work with at to myself too.

Thanks Hoops 4 Hope for what you've done for us expecial to the young kids.

I first met Mark when i was 6 or 7 years old. I was a camper at his day camp, East Hampton Sports Camp. Over the next few summers I got to know Mark and was quickly introduced to Hoops 4 Hope. As a young basketball player I was amazed that there were kids in Africa who couldn't play the sport that i loved so much. After a few years of going to camp my parents got to know Mark as well. They loved him as much as I did. For my next few birthday parties i had people bring donations for hoops 4 hope and any old sports equipment they had instead of gifts. This ended up producing a lot for Hoops and i was able to make a significant donation. A few years later, my family and I had an opportunity to go to South Africa and actually see firsthand what our donations had been going towards. We went to Cape Town for about a week. Seeing the impact that Hoops 4 Hope had on the lives of the kids in the townships we worked in was unbelievable. In Cape Town, one of the directors of Hoops, Thierry Kita, and his wife, Cindy took us around. If anyone could be as amazing as Mark, it's Kita. He has increased my family's dedication to H4H.
Hoops 4 Hope is truly a one of a kind organization that reaches out to people in such outstanding ways. It's an organization that reflects the values of its unbelievable leaders. I could never give Mark, Kita, and the rest of Hoops 4 Hope enough praise.

-Sam

I first met Mark when he came out to Zim as an exchange student from High School.

Mark has remained true and loyal to Zimbabwe and South Africa from those times, over 20 years ago. While H4H is growing in South Africa, by FAR a bigger achievement is for Mark to keep the H4H going in Zimbabwe.

I have close ties with Zimbabwe with many friends and family being forced to leave the country, mainly due to economic pressure. Daily living in Zimbabwe is very difficult with very very irregular supply of the basics of water, electricity, fuel and food.

Remember that Zimbabwe is the fastest CONTRACTING economy in the world, ever, except for countries at war.

For the people of Zimbabwe to have H4H, a voluntary organisation, keep providing support and education in these circumstances, maintaining their independence and integrity, is a gift beyond compare.

Thank you Mark and H4H. Please keep it up.

Adrian

I first met Mark when he came out to Zim as an exchange student from High School.

Mark has remained true and loyal to Zimbabwe and South Africa from those times, over 20 years ago. While H4H is growing in South Africa, by FAR a bigger achievement is for Mark to keep the H4H going in Zimbabwe.

I have close ties with Zimbabwe with many friends and family being forced to leave the country, mainly due to economic pressure. Daily living in Zimbabwe is very difficult with very very irregular supply of the basics of water, electricity, fuel and food.

Remember that Zimbabwe is the fastest CONTRACTING economy in the world, ever, except for countries at war.

For the people of Zimbabwe to have H4H, a voluntary organisation, keep providing support and education in these circumstances, maintaining their independence and integrity, is a gift beyond compare.

Thank you Mark and H4H. Please keep it up.

Adrian

The is no value you can put on the smile of a hundreds kids. Hoops 4 Hope brings these smiles to hundreds of kids in Zimbabwe on a daily basis through its basketball and Skills for Life programs run in under priveledged communities throughut Zimbabwe. Using the beloved game of basketball as bate to lure a genaration of kids deprived by poverty of the simple joys of being young, and exposed to the dangers of HIV and AIDS, crime , rape and child abuse , Hoops 4 Hope creates a sanctuary of safety , playing , learning and fun at local community courts. The thousands of second hand shoes they donate are an added bounus for kids whose parents will probably not afford a pair of Air Force 1s. Hoops 4 Hope is indeed on the forefront of instigating social change for the better of Zimbabwean and African children and thus should last 4 ever.

Mark, this is really a fantastic program.
My experience is from the US side where the collection drive gave the kids at KidsCare a tangible way of reaching out and helping people across the globe. The adults who helped were also deeply touched by the project. I think the work you are doing is very important to everyone it touches.
Thank you and keep it going!
- Jean Trewhella

I spent seven weeks volunteering at Hoops4Hope during the summer of 2007-2008, of which each day was an incredible journey. I have never met such incredible people, as well as gotten involved in such meaningful work, than during my stay in Cape Town. Hoops4Hope seems to bring much needed guidence and support to so many children in the townships, while providing these children with the tools necessary to become a successful human being. My only regret from the time I spent in South Africa is precisely that; time. Seven weeks was barely an introduction into the work i hope to pursue one day in South Africa. In the coming months, before college, i hope to return to Hoops4Hope and spend seven or eight months, rather than just mere weeks. Hoops4Hope has a lot of potential to grow as an organization, as well as a role model for other organizations looking to get involved in the townships of South Africa. There is most certainly a bright future for Hoops4Hope

Kita is staying in my home as i write this, and i will continue to thank him for supporting me during my stay in Cape Town. Mark - My father and I spoke to you at the end of last year, working out the logistics of my time with Hoops4Hope. I never got a chance to meet you, or thank you, which i hoped to do in person, so here is my thanks. Thank you very much for this incredible opportunity. The time I spent with your organization has opened my eyes to the world around me, while contributing greatly to my desire to travel and explore the world. I hope to meet you soon, be in in the states or in South Africa. Your work is admirable and i hope i am privileged enough to continue a relationship with Hoops4Hope.

All the best,

Jordan Klebanow

The work of the Hoops 4 Hope team is truly about being a positive force in the lives of young people. Hoops4Hope is a Change Agent that immediatly lets the young people that they work with along with the staff know that they are SOMEBODY and that they are important not only to themselves but to the community and the world. It is one of the single greatest empowerment tools I have ever seen. I'm honored to have witnessed the growth of the program and everyone involved should be extremely proud of the work done so far. Having said that, there is much work to do and Hoops4Hope has the will, energy and wisdom to do this critical work to change lives.

Peace,
Anthony Allison
Senior Program Officer
Norwalk Children's Foundation
Norwalk, CT USA

After seeing the positive impact on the lives of so many young children, it gives true Hope for the future. Apart from the short term impact on health and social skills, this programme provides a platform for participants to develop enduring life skills - so desperately needed in Africa. The volunteers and support workers get huge personal benefit from seeing these kids change their lives.
Go - Go - Go.
University of Cape Town

Hi Mark,
Hoops4Hope seems like a great program. As a basketball player, I was particularly pleased to see a basketball based project! I do have a few questions for you regarding the selection of basketball as your sport of intervention (although I note that you listed soccer as well) - have you found the specific sport used to make a difference of any sort? How have you addressed infrastructure issues with regard to basketball courts, or are these ubiquitous enough? I didn't see too many courts when I was in Southern Africa, but did see quite a few netball courts....which brings me to my next question. You note the risk factors facing girls and that your curriculum addresses gender issues. This seems to be a challenge to many organizations in the region you work, and I am interested in learning more about any insights you may have gained with respect to these issues that might help other practitioners.
Thanks so much and keep up the great work!
ziba

As those who have witnessed the program have said, H4H is having a tremendously positive impact on the children of South Africa. I am writing to say H4H is also having a positive impact on children here in the United States. Young athletes across the U.S. have been starting their own sneaker drives, 3 on 3 competitions and other events to collect sneakers and raise money for H4H. What better way to get our youth involved in helping those in need? Hoops 4 Hope is adding so much to our communities by developing a sense of global responsibility to the next generation. Keep up the great work.

i think what you guys are doing is wonderfull there is no better way of keeping kids from danger than giving them an alternative thats intresting and rewarding. keep up the good work thumbs up

Hey Mark

Here's wishing you well for the great work you're doing here in South Africa; changing lives, giving hope, bringing love, peace and life skills, and introducing basketball! Keep it up, you're an inspiration to us all,

John Curtis

Dear Mark,

It is amazing to see how far you have come and how many lives you have touched. Your program and your work are truly incredible. All the best wishes to you, your staff, and all the children who are lucky enough to work with you. Knowing you I know you feel the same way about the kids too! Keep up the great work!

Beth

Dear Mark,

It is amazing to see how far you have come and how many lives you have touched. Your program and your work are truly incredible. All the best wishes to you, your staff, and all the children who are lucky enough to work with you. Knowing you I know you feel the same way about the kids too! Keep up the great work!

Beth

Dear Mark,

It is amazing to see how far you have come and how many lives you have touched. Your program and your work are truly incredible. All the best wishes to you, your staff, and all the children who are lucky enough to work with you. Knowing you I know you feel the same way about the kids too! Keep up the great work!

Beth

Dear Mark,

It is amazing to see how far you have come and how many lives you have touched. Your program and your work are truly incredible. All the best wishes to you, your staff, and all the children who are lucky enough to work with you. Knowing you I know you feel the same way about the kids too! Keep up the great work!

Beth

In 2004 I had the life changing opportunity to participate as a coach in a Hoops4Hope conflict mediation day in addition to the weekly coaching at local townships. In coaching the program I was able to see the positive effect sport could instrumentally play by bringing communities that still have very little interaction with one another as a result of South Africa's colonial and apartheid history. This experience has led me to continue my academic studies where I have specifically looked at the role that sport can play as a tool for development and peace. Reflecting back on the program I can truly evaluate why Hoops4Hope actually works. For one Hoops4Hope isn't some neo-Colonial structure that alienates the role and input of those its trying to affect. Rather Hoops4Hope depends on the input of the people and communities it works with giving these communities a reason to buy in and participate. Second, Hoops4Hope is sustainable as it mobilizes these people within the community to be the main facilitators. When I was coaching for the program, I was more of an observer than a coach despite having a wealth of experience in basketball as collegiate player. The coaches who have been empowered by the Hoops4Hope training provide the ongoing presence as role models and effective coaches for the kids. Yes the kids were excited that I was there able to take them through some defensive slides, but it is the continued presences of the all-stars and MVPs that make the program sustainable. As hinted before my experience in this program has redirected where I hope to make an impact and I look at people like Mark Crandall and Thiery Kita as role models to pattern myself after.

Dear Mark,

This project seems to take an important place in South Africa since it got a lot of media attention. Giving opportunities to peer leaders to increase their knowledge in coaching sport as well as providing the communities with general life skills contribute to the development of the communities. In doing so, H4H meets the philosophy and the aims of our project (Kids with disabilities project from Mathare Youth Sports Association, Kenya). If you are interested in knowing more about this project, you can have a look at our entry.
We have a few questions for you concerning different parts of your project. First of all we are interested on how you proved the efficiency of your curriculum. What strategy did you use monitor and evaluate the project? For instance, you are saying that you used some behavior survey, could you detail the focus of this survey?
The second point is in relation to your project of strengthening the administrative and management team. How do you plan to improve the special skills of the projects’ team? Is there an educative strategy?
Your project focuses on the right of children. Since the children with disabilities are present in every community, we would like to know if the H4H project aims to include them within the project since they face the same lack of opportunities and information as the rest of the population.
To end with, we would like to give our full support to your project since the importance to supply the needs of the most underprivileged communities is very high.
We are looking forward to know more about your project and wish you all the best for the future.

Kind regards,
Steffi and Pierre

I have know Mark Crandall since he was a small boy at the Amagansett School. Mark's committment to providing opportunities to the youth in Africa has been remarkable and I have no doubt that it will continue to bring hope to many young boys and girls there. How fortunate for all concerned that Mark's life has been able to weave together his vocation with something he truely loves to do and something that is sorely needed. I hope that H4H will continue to grow and become a beneficiary of more and more people around the world who want to contribute to a program that makes a difference.

I have witnessed the developement of this innovative and inspiring organization since in was founded by mark crandal over ten years ago. It may sound cliche, but Hoops 4 Hope is concrete evidence that one man with one idea realy can make a massive difference. I know I speak for anyone who has ever competed in athletics when i say that, especially for youg people, the rewards and lessons of such competiton extend far beyond the playing field or court. It has truely been amazing for me to watch mark's simple idea (for americans to donate our otherwise wasted used sports gear) evolve into the massive agent of change it is today. That being said, mark would be the first to tell you that there is still a long way to go. I have never met a more sincere or devoted human being than Mark, and he deserves our help and recognition. I would ask everyone to support hoops 4 hope not only for the numerous benefits and improvements it has brought to the lives of thousands of impoverished children but also in honor of the awe-inspiring way that one man has turned his own love of sport into hope for an entire country.

Just a note of support for the Hoops for Hope program. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Zimbabwe, I was fortunate enough to see first hand the impact H4H has on young Zimbabweans confronting a number of challenges through sport. The ensemble Mark Crandall has put together, both locally and internationally, is unrivaled in dedication and enthusiasm for this project. And most importantly, the program has been embraced by the young people who take part in it - a clear slam dunk for Hoops for Hope.

Robert Nolan
Foreign Policy Association

Its true. Having spent 6 years working in youth development projects around the world, Hoops4Hope is simply the best there is. I have had the pleasure of working with Hoops4Hope over the past 3 years implementing an HIV prevention program with the coaches and players and can testify that this project really does practice what it preaches. I invite anyone to come witness their daily work - watch children play, build character and learn lifeskills right in front of your eyes.
Hoops4Hope's model is both successful and sustainable- working with community-based peer educators to reach the communitites themselves. Their integrity and work ethic are beyond reproach. And as with all great things, it is the people that really make it work. Directors Thierry Kita, Ngoni Mukukula and Mark Crandall are great men and true leaders in every sense. The MVPs and All-Stars (youth volunteer leaders) who commit their time to changing lives, their communities and the world encompass everything great we hope to see in the world. What an extraordinary group of people and what a great program.

I feel lucky to have met Mark and many of the people who work for Hoops 4 Hope. Learning about what they do has inspired my family and taught my kids that you can and should make a difference in peoples lives. We were in Africa this past summer and as daunting as the problems are, you can see that if organizations like Hoops 4 Hope are supported then change is possible. They are an amazing group!!

This is playing an incredible part in the development of young people in South Africa - the people behind it should be proudly congratulated and supported whole heartedly.

Good luck and all the very best for developing the people of tomorrow.

Witnessing first hand the work that Hoops 4 Hope has done in Africa has been inspiring. It is without a doubt one of the finest, and unfortunately, least talked about basketball charities. What Mark Crandall and his many co-workers have done for these young kids is nothing short of remarkable. I know for a fact that every dollar that goes to this organazation will be well spent and will, without question, have a personal and positive impact on communities all over Africa.

As the director of a US-based nonprofit that works with numerous organizations in South Africa, I have seen the good and the bad. Having visited Hoops for Hope's programs in the townships outside of Cape Town, I can personally vouch for the quality of sports instruction, dedication of the volunteers, and the value of life skills programming.

It is incredible to see bare-footed young girls with fundamental basketball skills that are surpass those of their comparable peers in America. The young American volunteer who accompanied me on our site visit thought that he was going to teach the participants a thing or two about basketball. Instead, we were routed in our scrimmage, and this young gentleman had a new sense of teamwork and the basics of the game. He was so moved that he donated his new Nike Air Force 1's to the project.

Hoops for Hope is impacting thousands of lives on a shoestring budget. Their efficiency is exemplary (such as using shipping containers to ship their shoes to Africa, then converting the containers into classrooms!), and every dollar donated goes a long way.

-Tom Harding, Executive Director, Art Aids Art

I have been involved with Hoops 4 Hope for about a year now. By way of background; I grew up in a very small town in Pennsylvania with a total population of around 1,000 people. I played my college ball in PA and professionally in the Country of Lebanon. I currently live and reside in New York City and coach a high school team on the side. I play about 3 leauge games a week, but play almost everyday. My job is working on Wall Street now, but I don't think there is a day that goes by where I wouldn't rather trade in my suit and tie to get out and play some ball with the kids and make a difference in their lives.

I found out about the H4H organization through my friend Marshall Cho and immediatley I knew I needed to get involved and tell others about the organization. I could see in the smiles of the kids that Marshall was helping how much basketball meant to them.

Teaching a kid how to play basketball is only a small portion of what you gain from the sport. Basketball teaches you teamwork, communication skills, respect for others, discipline, sportsmanship, etc. I can not even begin to explain how important basketball has been to me in my life. It has given me everything. It gave me a chance to travel, to meet different people, to experience different cultures, to express myself, a sense confidence, structure and a respect for the game and others. When you teach a kid about the values of hard work, discipline, respect you are helping that child learn life skills and be a better person. Through the programs that H4H has in place children are developing into young adults with a sense of belonging. Sometime we forget the impact that sports place on the youth because of what we see on TV and here on the radio. But the essence of giving kids structure and positive affirmation is essential for there development.

I am proud to be associated with this program and I will continue to be involved. Recently we did some fundraising for the Mozambique chapter so that they could rehab an old basketball court and give the kids a safe place to come and play and learn. I can not wait to see the pictures of the kids and know that I was a part of making it happen for these children in Mozambique. To know that some kid is going to be able to shoot on a hoop that I helped raise will be a great feeling.

There are a number of people out there doing good things and helping others, but I really feel in my heart that the H4H organization is the way to go. So check them out on the web and get involved. We can all do our part.

Brian Shahum

I came to the organization as a volunteer 12 years ago and it took me 4 years to be a Facilitator for basket-ball,HIV,leadership,it wan'nt easy for me to be where i am today.i have attended so many workshops through the program and in return i have trained more volunteers who are now my colleagues,most of them are now good working citizen,and few of them are Teachers in the same schools they used to coach 6 years ago. i came in due to lack of employed,had nothing to do but maybe few just not so positive and diceded to change my community and my own life in the prosess by giving back to other youths.untill i had kids of my own thats when everything started being difficult as i know needed money to raise my children.

My Best Times
the best program thus far for me would be what we call Conlict Mediation tournament that happens atleast three times a year with children from different backgrounds meet with only one thing in mind to have Fun awy from home and his/her old friends and meet some new people.

seeing the same children who are players in the program becoming Coaches and Role models to thier peers in and out of the school.

being called Coach "T" by students all my community and beyond and that makes me feel very needed in my community and pushes me to make few mistakes so children can learn from me as sometimes they need young role models people that they see and trust and very much relate by culture,way of living.

Way to GO"

using the program as a step in stone for wordeful things to happen to you,getting work thruogh the programs,gaining experience,working with people and having leadership skills so by the time you go to the bigger world you can settle in easy.

I made a promiss to myself that i will never go anywhere untill i see poverty,crime,etc come down will cause i realised that i was made for what i'm doing "Community Builder" not just for my own community.

thats what i've been thought by the program all these years, and they still difficult even for me.
"I LOVE MY JOB"

Mark Crandall
Hoops 4 Hope, Inc.
hoops4hope@mac.com
ehsc@mac.com
www.hoopsafrica.org