SUVA (Fiji) – FIBA in Oceania in partnership with the FIBA Foundation and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will deliver a week‑long Basketball For Good Facilitators Workshop in Suva, Fiji.
The workshop is part of an expanding multi‑year partnership between FIBA in Oceania and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), strengthening shared commitments, to empower National Federations and underpin Youth Development opportunities.
The program brings together 21 community leaders from 12 National Federations to strengthen their capacity to deliver safe, inclusive, and impactful basketball activities that drive social change.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition held in Nicaragua last year, the workshop will incorporate online learning with an intensive in‑person program, equipping facilitators with the tools to deliver Basketball For Good initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Health & Well‑Being, and Gender Equality. Participants will also gain hands‑on experience through the Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball Championship and a Basketball For Good Jamboree.
FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, said the workshop reflects a deep commitment to supporting National Federations and creating meaningful opportunities for young people throughout the region.
“Basketball For Good is one of the most powerful ways we support National Federations to grow the game beyond the court,” Ms Jenkins said. “This workshop gives local facilitators the skills, confidence, and community‑building tools they need to deliver programs that genuinely change lives.”
Ms Jenkins highlighted that the workshop’s structure, combining facilitation training, safeguarding, officiating development, and practical delivery, mirrors FIBA’s strategic focus on sustainable capacity‑building.
“Our strategic pillars emphasise long‑term development, and that starts with people. When we invest in facilitators, we invest in the future of basketball across Oceania. These leaders will go on to multiply the impact of Basketball For Good programs in schools, clubs, and communities across their country.”
Through MFAT’s support, Basketball For Good programs will continue to grow in reach and impact, ensuring more young people benefit from safe, inclusive, and community‑driven basketball pathways.
“MFAT’s partnership enables us to reach more young people, especially in communities where sport can be a gateway to healthier lifestyles, leadership skills, and gender‑inclusive participation,” Ms Jenkins said. “This workshop is a direct example of how international cooperation can create meaningful, local impact.”
The workshop will include sessions on facilitation foundations, safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, officiating (theory and practical), and the delivery of the Basketball For Good Playbook. Participants will also contribute to the Basketball Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball Championship and the Jamboree, gaining real‑time experience in youth engagement and event delivery.
The workshop is designed not only to train facilitators but to inspire them.
Basketball For Good is about creating safe spaces where young people feel valued, included, and empowered. When facilitators understand their role as multipliers, they become catalysts for positive change in their communities - Ms Jenkins said.
The workshop concludes on August 29 with a Jamboree 3x3 event, and the finals of the Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball Championship, celebrating both the participants’ achievements and the growing strength of youth basketball in Fiji.
About FIBA Foundation
The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
The FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.
About MFAT
MFAT acts in the world to build a safer, more prosperous, and more sustainable future for New Zealanders. It engages with countries, and with regional, international, and multilateral bodies, to influence outcomes that align with New Zealand’s values and protect its enduring national interests.