Euroleague Basketball’s One Team program and Motorola, in collaboration with One Team Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, are proud to announce a large “Bouncing for Good” initiative in Vitoria, to impact students from schools that are committed to support their community through diversity and promoting social justice and inclusion.
This initiative aims to foster social inclusion, empower young people, and create positive change within the community through the power of basketball. Vitoria’s "Bouncing for Good" welcomes the new year, becoming the fourth project of this positive initiative from the One Team and Motorola partnership, after the successful previous stops in Sopot, Milan and Paris, always working hand-by-hand with the local clubs.
A member of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague since its inception, Baskonia has long been dedicated to community engagement and social responsibility, taking home two trophies at the One Team Awards in recent years.
The "Bouncing for Good" initiative in Vitoria tipped-off with a workshop and a session with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz players Khalifa Diop and Nikos Rogkavopoulos, aimed at building teamwork, respect, and social responsibility through basketball.
Khalifa Diop, One Team Ambassador for Baskonia, is enthusiastic about the collaboration. "The partnership between One Team and Motorola is a powerful way to inspire young people and help them understand the importance of teamwork and social impact," said Diop. "Being part of this project is an incredible opportunity for students at Calasanz School, and I’m honored to support them on this journey." Diop commitment to One Team initiatives is such that he has enrolled his teammate and friend Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos, in supporting the "Bouncing for Good" initiative.
The students from Calasanz School – institution known for its focus on values such as solidarity, justice, peace, and respect for diversity – have participated in activities lead by Patricia Fernandez de Mendiola, a teacher from the school and the coach for Baskonia’s One Team program, who is leading the whole initiative that will also include a second activity during a One Team session with kids at risk of exclusion coming from the schools of Ibaiondo, Luis Elejalde, San Martin, Umandi, Odon de Apraiz and Aranbizkarra. With years of experience in school teaching and 4 years as a coach for the social projects with Baskonia, Patricia is excited to guide students with very diverse backgrounds in their journey of personal growth and community engagement through the "Bouncing for Good" initiative.
These activations with the various groups will be followed with basketballs donations for the participants and institutions thanks to Motorola’s support with a total of 400 basketballs being donated to the students participating in the activations and to the schools collaborating in the initiative.
Motorola, a key partner in this project, also celebrates the partnership. "We are proud to support the 'Bouncing for Good' initiative alongside Euroleague Basketball and One Team Baskonia’s network of schools’ collaborations", said Clara Borrás, Motorola’s Marketing Director for Iberia. "This program is a great example of how education, sport, and inclusion can come together to create positive change in the community."