Bobbito Garcia recently headed to West Africa to coach basketball clinics for The SEEDS Foundation in four Senegalese cities over a three-day weekend as part of their GROW THE GAME program to not only help kids learn how to play ball but more importantly to inspire them to choose education as a route to self-empowerment. Check out an excerpt from Bobbito’s recap of his recent trip:
I brought 10 sneakers with me to donate throughout the sites. In Linguére and San Louis, I didn’t pick the recipients by virtue of best handle or effort, I just walked around and tried to find the kid with the most busted pair in need of a new one. Little man had a mean crossover though!…
…After I gave these goodies out, a young kid walked up to me and pointed at his shoes. Think of the most dogged pair you’ve ever owned and times that by 100. His face broke my heart, I’m not even gonna front. He asked if he could have my Nikes, and word to my mother I unlaced them right there and passed them to him. Then another kid showed me his socks with a big “hello” hole on the big toe, and I said bet, gave him my socks off my feet too and stood there barefooted. For a second my New York instinct kicked in and I wondered if I had gotten hustled cuz I felt like it was 1980 and I had been robbed for my joints on the train station, but nah, that wasn’t it. I wish I could help every kid in Louga who needed it, but it’s impossible. 30 boys and girls followed me back to the bus after that, all expecting me to give them something, too. This wasn’t “Hook me up,” though, this was real deal we can use some gear. I wish I could help everyone one of them. Perhaps one day, Inshallah.
Check out the more photos and his entire recap on Bounce Mag!
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