TIMIKA (Indonesia) – Making a full circle of sorts, the Hoops For Health program has returned to the Pacific island region of New Guinea.
With the intended goal of tackling the high incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among island communities, Hoops For Health has already been launched in Papua New Guinea in 2022.
Now, the program is being implemented in Indonesia’s Western New Guinea region as part of the strategy of the newly created FIBA Indonesia office.
What is Hoops For Health?
Hoops For Health is a one-of-a-kind initiative that integrates fun basketball lessons for children and youth, with sound health and well-being practices. As part of the larger ‘Basketball For Good’ mission of the FIBA Foundation, Hoops For Health directly addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3 on ‘Good Health and Well-Being’.
The World Health Organization data suggests that 75% of all adult deaths in the Pacific Region can be attributed to NCDs like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. These fatalities are largely preventable through an active lifestyle. Basketball being a physically demanding sport, is expected to help instill healthy habits in young children, thereby reducing the chances of developing chronic NCDs.
Using the FIBA Foundation Hoops for Health & Well-Being Playbook, Hoops For Health inculcates health awareness to help children understand the causes, effects, and prevention techniques to combat NCDs.
Indonesia’s Basketball For Good Program
As a frontier region of Indonesia – the world's largest archipelagic state comprising an incredible 17000+ islands extending over 5000 kilometers from east to west, the Papua Province is particularly susceptible to a higher incidence of NCDs.
Keeping this peculiar vulnerability in mind, Basketball for Good was implemented for the first time in Central Papua, a key province in the Papua Region, Indonesia.
The inaugural Hoops For Health program was conducted in Timika on December 3, 2024, with the support of the Indonesia Basketball Association (PERBASI) and the Center of Excellence Sport & Exercise Research Center - Surabaya State University.
Eighteen physical education teachers from fourteen local schools attended the event, which focused on building human capacity by enhancing the skills of both teachers and students. The teachers participated in two key activities: the "Training of Teachers," which equipped them with the knowledge and tools to implement the program, and the "Basketball Clinic," where they actively engaged with students in practical, hands-on sessions to apply their newly acquired skills.
Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision
The Hoops For Health program at the Indoor Hall Mimika Sport Complex saw the active participation of 119 students from schools across Mimika Regency.
The day-long session was split into two parts. The morning focused on training the teachers on various topics such as healthy eating, mental health, non-communicable disease awareness, personal hygiene, and active lifestyle. The afternoon session was dedicated to drills imparting physical literacy skills while educating about the importance of health and well-being to students.
In order to ensure the sustainability of the Hoops For Health program, the next step will be to involve the local community and expand to other regions. The larger goal is to support Indonesia’s vision of a prosperous society by 2045, marking the 100th year of its independence.
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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