PARO (Bhutan) – “Compared to students I have trained, those with hearing impairment show a lot of gratitude and interest in learning.”
Coach Tshering Lhaden’s candid take on Bhutan’s ‘Hearing through Hoops’ project lingers. The Basketball For Good camp in October 2025 introduced the sport to 58 deaf participants.
Seen but unseen
Those with hearing impairment are often the ‘forgotten’ category of people with disabilities when it comes to inclusion in sports. The isolation stems from the often-invisible nature of hearing impairment, compounded by communication differences.
A remote mountainous country, Bhutan also suffers from geographical disadvantages, making ‘Hearing through Hoops’ all the more impressive, considering it featured participants from across all 20 districts.
This was made possible thanks to the Basketball Federation of Bhutan’s pragmatic tie-ups with Wangsel Institute for the Deaf and the Bhutan Paralympic Committee, and the support of the FIBA Foundation through Propose a Project.
No one left behind
The 33 male and 25 female students from the Wangsel Institute in Paro were introduced to organized basketball coaching for the first time in their lives. Fundamental skills such as ball handling were taught, with a small subset of proficient learners progressing to more advanced drills.
“While basketball in Bhutan is experiencing a period of critical growth, our core mission remains steadfast: ensuring that through sports, no one is left behind,” Ms. Sonam Choden, Program Officer, Basketball Federation of Bhutan, said.
Coping with emotions
For 22-year-old male participant Sangay Khandu, the camp helped him cope with emotions, while also learning how to support others.
“Having now been introduced to basketball, I feel sport is very important in our lives,” Khandu said.
For 19-year-old Sonam Choki, the sessions improved her confidence, critical thinking abilities, and punctuality.
“We become active every day. We can stay physically and mentally fit. We learn to make decisions.”
Sign language workshop
To overcome communication barriers, a sign language workshop was held for coaches and staff.
“The training actually helped us connect with the students there. As soon as we used sign language, they were extremely attentive,” Coach Lhaden pointed out. “I grew into a person who is more aware of communities like these and wonder if I can do more coaching camps that involve not only deaf students but also those with other disabilities.”
To ensure sustainability, "Hearing Through Hoops" is pursuing diverse funding, raising awareness, evaluating and improving the program, and documenting and sharing best practices.
Spreading happiness
“Despite the modest size of our Federation, we are deeply committed to partnering with institutions that support youth with disabilities. The Wangsel Institute has stood out for its vibrant athletic spirit. The sheer capacity and enthusiasm of its students have been a true inspiration to our mission. They have emphasized that they would want us to make more coaching programs like these for the students to take an interest in the sport of basketball,” Ms. Choden notes.
For young adults like Khandu and Choki, they simply wish to keep their dribbles and dreams alive.
“It’s enjoyable, keeps us engaged, fit, and healthy,” Khandu concludes.
Bhutan is usually at the top of the World Happiness Index. Basketball For Good initiatives like this remind us why.
Propose a Project 2026
Where basketball ignites inclusion, real change takes form. Propose a Project 2026 is now open until March 1 for organizations ready to transform passion for the game into measurable impact.
Apply here to get support from the FIBA Foundation.
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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.
FIBA