Lead Through Hoops is a nonprofit organization that provides free monthly basketball training to elementary school children in the Atlanta area to instill leadership qualities in tomorrow’s leaders. Run by two Lambert students, Sajan Shah and Nikhil Fernandes, Lead Through Hoops’ goal is to help kids learn life skills through basketball, and their upcoming training in October promises just that for the participants.
Fernandes emphasized some of the challenges in running Lead Through Hoops.
“A big challenge is definitely finding one court space because it’s expensive in some places,” Fernandes said. “We need to find a place where we can have the kids come and have enough space for everyone to play, because we get eight to ten kids who are coming to our camps and our training.”
Basketball events are difficult to organize because there are many logistical challenges that need to be taken care of before the actual session begins. To make each session go smoothly, the co-founders must plan weeks in advance so that everything goes well.
Fernandes explained how his nonprofit will help elementary school children beyond just learning basketball skills.
“Our main goal is to provide these kids with leadership skills through the game of basketball to allow them to be able to be successful in their future endeavors,” Fernandes said. “So when they go into the workforce, they will use the leadership skills they learn from us in those and succeed in those areas.”
Since basketball is a team sport, it is necessary for players to have a sense of responsibility and respect for their role on the team. Whether it be through points and assists or giving pep talks to inspire teammates, Fernandes hopes that the leadership skills they teach on the court to the players will be applied off the court as well.
Sajan Shah, another one of the co-founders of Lead Through Hoops, explained the organization’s plan for continued participation.
“We use our social media platform mainly, and we have an email chain to reach out to them[parents of members] to make sure they show up on time and come to our practices,” Shah explained.
An organization like Lead Through Hoops requires membership and participation since their entire purpose is to train the players. In preparation for their next event on October 19, both co-founders will post the organization’s previous accomplishments and send emails to maximize participation next Saturday.
As the nonprofit continues to inspire players, it will always maintain a measurable impact. Lead Through Hoops is more than just a basketball training camp, it is a place for elementary school children to have fun while also learning valuable leadership skills that they will continue to use on and off the court.
