July 25, 2007

PHOTO GALLERY

By PETE IORIZZO, Albany Times Union Staff writer

First published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007

LOUDONVILLE -- In one of the world's poorest countries, where most children speak little or no English and hardly ever see American visitors, a Siena coach found that basketball bridged even the largest of cultural divides.

"Once you have a basketball in your hand, you don't need language," assistant men's basketball coach Adam Chaskin said. "The kids understand what you're saying."

So, with the help of hoops, Chaskin connected earlier this month with more than 100 children in Niger. He traveled to the landlocked African nation of about 13 million to help operate a week-long clinic through a nonprofit called Hoops4Kids, founded 10 years ago by a Niger native who now lives in the Capital Region.

The clinic strove to bring sport and recreation to a nation in which less than half the children complete six years of compulsory education and far fewer enjoy participation in organized after-school or summer activities.

"This was a big deal," Chaskin said. "There was a lot of national media there. First, you have to consider, basketball is not a popular sport there. And second, they don't do things like this. There aren't any free clinics."

Chaskin returned from the clinic July 16, after spending 10 days helping boys and girls age 13 and younger improve their basketball skills through organized drills and games. Though most of the children spoke French, Niger's national language, Chaskin said he found the children quick to comprehend his demonstrations and instructions.

"Even if they couldn't understand what I was saying, I could demonstrate and show them, and they knew what I meant," Chaskin said.

Hoops4Kids, founded by Niskayuna resident Yacouba Sangare', brings an American assistant coach to Niger every other year to assist with its free clinics. Hoops4Kids also hopes to raise enough money someday to bring children from Niger to the United States to join programs here. Sangare', who played basketball for the Niger national team, also conducts clinics in the Capital Region that raise money for Hoops4Kids.

"A lot of the children from Niger write to us during the year and tell us how much they enjoy the program," said Yacouba's wife, Tracy, who serves as the Hoops4Kids' treasurer. "Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, and there aren't a lot of things for kids to do after school." Because few organized basketball programs exist in Niger and because soccer remains its most popular sport, players in Niger tend to be less proficient than their American peers, Chaskin said.

"It's an extremely poor country, and there's very little infrastructure," he said. "So, when you think about it, what money is there to fund a sport that isn't even one of the most popular in that country?

"The kids tried. There were a few kids, you could see they had the tools to be good players if they played more."

During his stay, Chaskin bunked in Yacouba's home, just outside of Naimey, Niger's capital city of about 1 million people. Chaskin said the home bore similarities to traditional American houses, though, like almost all in Niger, it lacked air conditioning.

The clinic ended each day before noon, because the temperature often reached in the mid- to upper-90s. Temperatures remained in the 80s and 90s even after midnight, Chaskin said.

"That took some getting used to," he said.

At the conclusion of the clinic, Chaskin said he posed for pictures with most of the children as well as a handful of coaches from Niger. As a gift, one gave him a traditional outfit of clothes.

"They were very thankful," Chaskin said. "The kids really wanted to learn. Whether they understood every single thing I said, I'm not sure. But they really wanted to learn."