Big Bang Ballers - France

The members of Big Bang Ballers (BBB) have built an extensive expertise in using sport for educational purposes. Basketball has always been a way to meet people, to build connections with them and to contribute to their education, personal development and well-being. The BBB sees sport activities as essential for the physical, psychological and social development of children, youth and adults, especially those with fewer opportunities (street kids, disabled persons or isolated people). Sport and especially basketball have enabled us to create rich intercultural encounters and strengthen social diversity, whether in our international or local programs. The BBB pays a particular attention to include people distant from sports practice, such as people with disabilities, women, obese people or seniors.

Our activities are divided in three sectors:

1. Sport in my hood.
We organise sports events (tournaments and contests) to develop urban sport practices and promote access to sports for all. The money raised during these actions is allocated to our local and international solidarity projects.

2. Sport for all.
We have noticed that sport is an incredible tool for sharing and stretching people’s mind. It is an extraordinary means to fight against discriminations and to strengthen social cohesion amongst communities that never meet. We promote ludic sports practices for all by developing health and socio-educational programs. For instance, we have developed a program called Ramène ta copine (Girls, take your friend with you) as a way to work with girls populations in Grenoble, especially Roma girls.

3. Sport around the globe.
We consider sport as a powerful tool for intercultural encounter and living together. We take action at the international level because sport has no borders. We support French youth interested in international solidarity by organizing youth mobilities.We also share the know-how of the Big Bang Ballers with local structures, to help them reach their aims and implement their projects. For example, we have been running sport activities with migrants and refugees through international camps in Rabat (Morocco) since 2014 by establishing a partnership with Caritas Morocco and the HCR.