Get children to learn basketball for free ( Greece)

Two years ago we had an idea. To offer charge free basketball academies to children that may not be able to pay. All of our children are part of our big family, our basketball team, “ Apokalipsi B.C”. Many of our kids are immigrants, many others not. We are sited in a degraded area in the center of Thessaloniki. The past 8 years our training court is the 53th elementary school basketball court, while our official games take place at Mikra Basketball Stadium. Of course what we have in mind has to do with what we deal with. This is our story too. Most of our children are in a bad financial status, that due to this financial crisis in Greece got worse. So we began to run a project that would give this children the chance to stay practicing without cost...for them. Our academy was working unofficially with volunteer funding, as it is our responsibiity to pay for most of the expenses but now, especially after a municipal decision for the rent of the school basketball courts, this became really difficult.

After two years of hard work and contacts with both public institutions and prominent basketball people, asking them for help, we concluded to this decision. Trying to run the academy for free, at any cost. So we ask for help in order to achieve what we dream of. Our academy from now and on is already running for free.

Your help will be vital in order to continue the project that way. Below, we cite our annual functional expenses:

• 3500-4000/year: Expenses for court, paid to the municipality of Thessaloniki.
• 800-1200/year: Money needed for bottles of water, balls, suits
• 300-500/year: Money needed for games expenses to Thessaloniki confederation.

All the above are the calculated annual expenses of the team without our personal expenses and of course coaches pay, since our coaching team is already doing this for free.

Right now we have more than 70 children practicing. Our project with these annual expenses can hold up to 150 children.

Of course any detail of pay will be available to anyone ask for, while any money raised beyond our needs will be used for charities. ( we have some institutions already in our mind).

Helps us keep our dream alive

Apokalipsi B.C. supporting team

Glaros Haris, Boulalas Zois