Enfants du Bénin Debout : basketball camps and tournaments

An initiative by Ahmed Taofik

Former professional basketball player Ahmed Taofik is deeply committed to development activities and education through sport, particularly in Benin. He founded the association Enfants du Bénin Debout (Children of Benin, Arise) in 2012.

The socio-educational camps and the international basketball tournament organised by Enfants du Bénin Debout have become major events in the world of Beninese basketball. These events combine intensive basketball training, cultural visits and conferences on social issues. Enfants du Bénin Debout now wants to help build a permanent sports and culture centre to continue its work with young people.

Context

Over half of the population of Benin is under 18. Sport is a great tool for fostering young people’s personal development, social and professional integration, and access to education.

Enfants du Bénin Debout has held a one-week basketball camp every summer since 2012. In addition to the intensive basketball training, the camp is interspersed with various social and educational sessions, including cultural visits and conferences in partnership with international organisations (WHO, UNESCO).
The camp concludes with the United Basketball Africa (UBA) three-day international tournament that attracts teams, including disability teams, from several African countries.

Enfants du Bénin Debout now wants to help build a permanent sports and culture centre and develop a health and education programme.

Goals

Build a permanent sports and culture centre
Foster the personal development and fulfilment of Beninese youth through sport
Boost participation in basketball and encourage young people to take up the sport
Raise awareness among Beninese youth of environmental protection, disability sports and sustainable development issues
Promote African culture and heritage

Activities

Holding socio-educational basketball camps in Porto-Novo, followed by a three-day international basketball tournament
Arranging cultural outings, such as visits to museums, historic sites and farms to stimulate the intellectual curiosity of young people
Organising conferences: prevention of STDs, nutrition, leadership, entrepreneurship
Establishing a year-round academic support programme

Find out more about the 2019 UBA tournament

Impacts

Over 7,000 young people have participated in Enfants du Bénin Debout events since 2012
120 girls and boys aged 12 to 18 took part in the 2019 UBA tournament
Local communities and volunteers make a year-round commitment to the association’s projects
Sharing experiences with the basketball teams invited to the tournament (Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana and Nigeria)
Members of disability basketball teams participate in the UBA tournament