NBA Cares Action·Girls Home: Basketball builds dreams and empowers young girls’ growth
2024-08-27
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On the vast stage of basketball, the tenacity and strength of female athletes have always been an indispensable part. From obscurity in the early days to the brilliance today, Chinese women's basketball is ready to go, giving people more room for imagination, and at the same time becoming a role model and leader for countless young women. Among them, Zheng Haixia and Li Yueru are benchmark figures of the new and old generations. Their growth stories are like a beacon, illuminating the way for those who come after them. Now, the launch of the "NBA Cares Action · Girls' Home" youth women's basketball charity program aims to provide Chinese young women with a broader development space through basketball education, helping them to move forward on the road to growth.
Caring actions give girls more possibilities
The program was jointly initiated by NBA China and Ant Group, aiming to provide a fertile ground for growth and a stage for display for female teenagers in underdeveloped areas through the medium of basketball. Based on the growth experience of many outstanding female athletes, NBA China found that sports can help girls grow in a comprehensive way from physical and psychological aspects, and the "NBA Cares Action · Girls Home" youth women's basketball charity program came into being. The core concept of the project is to comprehensively promote the synchronous development of campus girls' basketball skills, physical fitness and mental health through various means such as physical education teacher training, sports facilities improvement, basketball skills training and on-campus and off-campus competitions.
At the project launch ceremony, the appearance of basketball superstars such as Zheng Haixia, Battelle, and Horry not only added a strong basketball atmosphere to the event, but also conveyed their deep care and earnest expectations for young girls with practical actions. At the public welfare program seminar, NBA Senior Vice President Li Jianwei said that as a professional basketball league, the NBA's mission is to inspire each other and connect the world with the power of basketball, and the Girls' Home Project fits this theme perfectly. "We hope that through the Girls' Home Project, more people will pay attention to rural campus basketball and the development of rural girls. Students participate in basketball training not only for competitive results. Basketball will train us in many important qualities, such as courage, independence, courage to pursue, and how to face setbacks. Through the Girls' Home Project, we hope that girls can go off the court with more results, bring the results back to life, and grow better, which is more valuable."
Peng Yijie, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer of Ant Group, agrees with this. "Each of us should have our own passion, and we should have a sports hobby. The passion brought by sports is different from other passions. It is your control over your body, the combination of brain and body and mind. I hope our activities can make more girls love basketball. I believe a different chapter will be opened." Peng Yijie said. Every rural child who loves sports may not necessarily become a world-class star, but having his own passion, especially for team sports like basketball, is very meaningful.
Starting from basketball education, empowering girls to grow
In the "NBA Cares Action · Girls Home" public welfare program, basketball education has been given a new connotation and mission. It is no longer just a way to teach sports skills, but has become a powerful tool to promote the all-round development of young girls. Through systematic basketball training, girls can not only master the basic skills and tactical thinking of basketball, but more importantly, they have learned the valuable qualities of teamwork, courage to challenge and perseverance on the basketball court. These qualities will play an irreplaceable role in their future growth.
Basketball education also provides girls with a platform to show themselves and release pressure. Under the intense study and life pressure, basketball has become a good medicine for them to relax and enjoy fun. By participating in basketball training and competitions, girls can face various challenges in life more confidently and achieve healthy and harmonious development of body and mind.
Bater, who serves as the chairman of the Inner Mongolia Basketball Association and is currently in charge of the women's basketball work, said, "The Inner Mongolia women's basketball team has developed very well in recent years and has achieved certain results. What I feel most deeply is that the Rural Credit Women's Basketball Team has brought very good impetus and response to the basketball and sports industry in the autonomous region." Bater smiled and said to Zheng Haixia that when he saw these girls at the scene, he subconsciously wondered whether there would be a Zheng Haixia in Inner Mongolia in the future through our activities.
Their growth path all started with basketball.
Zheng Haixia, the legendary player known as the "No. 1 Chinese women's basketball player", her story is the most vivid interpretation of "basketball changes destiny". Born in an ordinary rural family in Shangqiu, Henan, Zheng Haixia has been outstanding since childhood, but due to limited family conditions, she almost missed the opportunity to become connected with basketball. However, the turning point of fate always comes inadvertently. A letter from Zheng Haixia's brother gave her the opportunity to be selected by the sports school coach and embarked on the road of basketball. Basketball not only helps her get better physical fitness, but also tempers her will and character. From the fields in Shangqiu, Henan to the highest hall of world basketball, Zheng Haixia has proved with sweat and hard work that sports give women more possibilities. "Basketball can first help you grow taller, and secondly, it can make you smarter. In addition, it can change your identity, go out of the countryside, go to the whole country, and even go to the world." At the event, Zheng Haixia expressed very sincerely that she hoped that NBA China could increase investment in girls, provide more financial support and venue support, and help girls in mountainous areas have the opportunity to participate in basketball.
Li Yueru, who also shines in the basketball world, has a more modern and inspiring story. As the core force of the new generation of Chinese women's basketball, Li Yueru successfully landed in the world's top women's basketball league, the WNBA, with her outstanding talent and unremitting efforts. In the American arena, she showed the characteristics of solid basic skills and outstanding small skills of oriental players, and won the respect and love of international peers with her optimistic and tenacious spirit. In the recent game, she made 4 of 7 shots in a personal record-high 27 minutes of playing time, contributing 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal, filling her personal data column and winning wide acclaim. At the event, Li Yueru told the children through a video that she hoped the children could enjoy basketball to their heart's content and show their best side on the basketball court through this event. Li Yueru's growth path has undoubtedly set an example for more young women to pursue their dreams and dare to challenge.
Comprehensive guarantee, enhanced hardware facilities, and construction of the cornerstone of dreams
In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the "NBA Cares Action Girls' Home" charity program, NBA China and Ant Group have also invested a lot of resources to improve the construction of sports facilities in rural schools. At Bayanmangha Central School in Horqin Right Middle Banner, a brand new basketball court shines brightly in the sun. The colorful plastic court, standardized basketball stands and a series of professional supporting facilities provide girls with a safe, comfortable and fun sports environment. This is not only the completion of a basketball court, but also the starting point for the rural girls' basketball dream.
The successful implementation of the "NBA Cares Action · Girls' Home" charity program is inseparable from the extensive participation and support from all sectors of society. From representatives of NBA China and Ant Group to the Youth Foundation, child psychologists, school leaders, parent representatives and other forces, everyone works together to contribute to the basketball dreams of rural girls. This atmosphere of unity and love not only provides a strong guarantee for the smooth implementation of the project, but also allows every participating girl to feel the warmth and care from the society.
Source: China Daily
