Basketball instead of a football field: Ludwigshafen starts the BasKidBall” project!

Basketball instead of a football field: Ludwigshafen starts the BasKidBall” project!

An exciting project is starting in the heart of Ludwigshafen that not only promotes the sport of basketball, but also serves as an integrative platform for young people. The “BasKidBall” sports project, supported by basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki, aims to bring children and young people together through sport and culture, regardless of their background. As the Rheinpfalz reports, the program is offered by Innovative Social Work (Iso) from Bamberg in 27 municipalities, including Ludwigshafen.

In this context, a large celebration was recently held to introduce the program in the Langgewann primary school. Project manager Charlotte Christ emphasized that “BasKidBall” is a centerpiece that stretches from Fehmarn to Munich and opens the door to sporting activities for children. In particular, the “open sports hall”, which is available to the general public at fixed times, offers young people the opportunity to become active. The local youth support organization has set up the program at six locations, coupled with existing care offerings.

Versatile offers

The best part? Participation is free and prior registration is not necessary. Sports lessons are accompanied by social education specialists so that the children are not only active but can also learn valuable social skills. The offer is already attracting numerous young people - up to 90 children and young people come together in Ludwigshafen every week to play basketball.

The sports halls are open a total of six days a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A special highlight are the two mobile basketball hoops that were purchased so that people can actively participate in district festivals. In addition, Anna-Katherina Rapp, the project's local patron and head of BASF's social engagement department, is passionately committed to the initiative. Rapp herself has been playing basketball since she was a child and has a good knack for getting kids excited about the sport.

Support for youth

“BasKidBall” is also backed by the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, which is based in Würzburg and is dedicated to promoting youth welfare, sports, education and training. The foundation pursues public purposes and particularly supports projects that enable children and young people to actively participate in sport. Financial and content-related support is provided for suitable projects in Germany and worldwide. A particular focus is on recognizing and developing the strengths and potential of young people.

The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation has set high quality criteria for its funding projects, including sustainability through regular exercise offerings and relationship orientation with permanent contact persons. No new funding requests are possible until further notice as the funds are tied to existing collaborations, but the focus on meaningful and sustainable projects remains strong.

This multifaceted commitment shows how important sport and exercise are for a successful start in life. The triad of sport, youth welfare and education illuminates the ambitious goals of “BasKidBall”. It remains exciting to see how this project will continue to develop and contribute to the positive integration and promotion of youth in Ludwigshafen.