BWB Africa: U.S. Ambassador open R1m dining hall

Newly-arrived U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Eric M. Bost performed one of his first official function when he declared openthe U.S. dining hall at Ithuteng Trust.

Ambassador Bost was joined by Trust Director “Mama Jackey” Maarohanye as well as representatives of the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) in cutting the ribbon at the new hall.

The completed hall was an idea mutted two years ago by the then-U.S. Ambassador Jendayi Frazer commiting R1 million rand towards the construction of a Dining Hall at Ithuteng Trust.

This inauguration is the culmination of that commitment, said the new Ambassador.

The U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) has developed a partnership with the Ithuteng Trust through its "Basketball Without Borders" program. NBA players have contributed to construction of a reading center and a dormitory at Ithuteng, and have joined with Ithuteng’s young people in programs to promote leadership, healthy living, HIV / AIDS prevention and drug abuse education.

The United States Embassy is pleased to be able to play a supportive role in this ongoing partnership, concluded Ambassador Bost.

NBA players carries HIV/AIDS fight to AFRICA

As part of community outreach for Basketball Without Borders in Africa, NBA players will attend an HIV/AIDS awareness event Friday, at Cotlands, a nonprofit organization in Johannesburg that operates one of the most renowned pediatric AIDS hospices for children ages 0-9 years old.

Cotlands also provides onsite care for abused, abandoned and HIV/AIDS infected children. NBA players will participate in an HIV/AIDS education training seminar with Cotlands staff, take a tour of the facility, and spend time with some of the children who live at Cotlands.

Last year, the NBA partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria and the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg to put on an HIV/AIDS education and prevention event at the Moletsane Sports Complex in Soweto.

The NBA contingent of current and former players and team personnel spoke at the event about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and HIV/AIDS prevention.

The event also included drama presentations, personal testimonials, music, dance and a health fair featuring mobile clinics, booths, and other information displays. Reebok and the NBA also dedicated two refurbished basketball courts to promote healthy, active lifestyles through sport.

Top NBA Stars to dedicate Soweto Multi-purpose hall

Top former and active American National Basketball Association, NBA stars will on Saturday be part of history in Soweto, South Africa when they dedicate the newly built multi purpose dining hall at Soweto Kliptown Youth (Sky) Trust.

The former NBA players that are to perform such a lofty ceremony includes Bob Lanier, Manute Bol, Bruce Bowen of San Antonio Spurs, Rasual Butler of the New Orleans/OKC Hornets, Luol Deng of Chicago Bulls, Boris Diaw of the Phoenix Suns, DeSagana Diop of Senegal and Dallas Mavericks and Chris Duhon of the Chicago Bulls.

Others are Jim Jackson of Los Angeles Lakers, Kyle Korver of Philadelphia 76ers, Dikembe Mutombo of Congo and Houston Rockets, Luke Walton of Los Angeles Lakers and Jerome Williams a former NBA player.

The dedication one of the activities lined up for this year Basketball Without Borders in Africa. The dedication of the new dining hall, kitchen and bathroom facility at the Soweto Kliptown Youth (SKY) Trust, is a youth empowerment program located in Kliptown, South Africa on Saturday at 2:30 p.m local time.

The project was funded by donations made by NBA players Marcus Camby, Jim Jackson, Darvin Ham, Dikembe Mutombo, Jerome Williams and Coach John Thompson. The NBA players will be joined by BWB community partner Feed the Children, which over the course of the year has provided daily meals to the 500 kids attending the SKY Trust and has funded the development of thenew kitchen.

Sports wears manufacturing giant, Reebok will also be donating sneakers to the children of SKY Trust.

Last year, the group visited SKY Trust as part of Basketball Without Borders Africa to open a new Reading & Learning Center to encourage education and literacy. The Center included a multi-media/computer room, library, new offices for staff as well as a donation of books, computers, educational materials, clothing and basketball equipment.