A city-wide basketball tournament for teens in South Africa

PeacePlayers International
Durban, South Africa

THE ORGANIZATION

PeacePlayers International uses basketball to unite, educate and inspire young people to create a more peaceful world. Based on the premise that children who play together can learn to live together, they implement consistent, year-round sports activities that bring together children from opposite sides of religious, ethnic and cultural divides to develop friendship and mutual respect.

The project

PeacePlayers brings every team, nearly 500 kids, to one location in Durban’s city center for the largest youth basketball tournament on the African Continent. The children are placed on mixed teams and play with youth from other PeacePlayers schools. Kids First Funds are used for their citywide tournament, enabling 500 children to directly benefit from creating a safe environment for them to learn, develop and have fun.

The applicant

Brian Lemek, Cultural Care host dad
Brian Lemek joined the PeacePlayers International team in early 2003 as one of the first International Fellows in Durban, South Africa. As Director of Development, Brian spearheads PeacePlayer’s development efforts in the United States and provides strategic support to the four international sites. The Lemek family has hosted three au pairs through Cultural Care Au Pair.