Hi, My name is Michael Mai, and I want to share with you a project that has quickly become one of the biggest passions of my heart!
One year ago, together with News Release Basketball (USA) and The A2Z Foundation (Zambia) , we started a basketball development project in Lusaka, Zambia. The Zulu brothers had approached us a couple years earlier about the idea, but COVID postponed our plans. Arthur Zulu explained that he had the opportunity to come to the USA, and pursue his dream of playing Division 1 basketball at Sam Houston State. Now he wanted to give back to the community in Lusaka that had supported him so much as a young man. So he and his brother started The A2Z Foundation - focused on mentoring and life skills training for the next generation of young people. As part of the program, they wanted us to help by organizing a summer basketball camp.
Last summer we ran our first A2Z Youth Basketball Camp / Coaching Clinic in Lusaka. We had an amazing week working with the amazing youth and coaches in Lusaka but we left wanting to do more! So we started running online Zoom Coaches Training Sessions every Monday for the last 10 months. In January my wife, Dave Severns, and I also had the opportunity to travel to Zambia to run a Coaching Clinic together with the Zambian Basketball Federation (ZBF), the Foundation for Youth Basketball Development, and A2Z.
Over this past year, we have fallen in love with the people of Zambia and this project! We are in the process of organizing our 2nd Annual Youth Basketball Camp / Coaching Clinic this August. We will also be reaching out to more schools and youth around Lusaka, deepening key relationships with the ZBF and others in Lusaka, and growing the project.
We have also been touched by the needs and challenges they face. Things like many of the kids not having decent shoes to wear; not having basic sports equipment - like balls, uniforms, coaching boards, etc; lack of coaches training and development; lack of financial resources to run their programs effectively - like not being able to provide basic medical aid at sports events; not having access to a solid infrastructure of basketball courts or places for the kids to play and grow...
As someone who has been blessed so much in life, I have always felt like it was my responsibility as one of those who 'has' to share with those who 'don't have'. That is where we really need your help!!! The needs are too many, the costs are too much, and the vision is to big for us to do this on our own. We need help from people who are passionate about Africa, passionate about basketball, and passionate about young people!
By this July 2023, we need to raise $11,500 for this summer. The money will go toward:
Flights for the Coaches -- $7000
Room / Board / Transportation -- $2000
Medical and Sports Equipment -- $1000
Rent for Facilities -- $500
Food for Camp -- $1000
Thank you so much in advance for taking the time to read this message, and for your heart to help with this project! We can't tell you have much we appreciate it!
Support Mike's Project Basketball Zambia Fundraiser