Click on the video above or head over to
NBA.com to listen to Tome Barros talk about his amazing experience working with Shooting Touch, Inc. as their first grant recipient in which he embarks on a 10 month international basketball journey. Tome is currently in Dakar, Senegal teaching African youth basketball and leadership skills, HIV and AIDS prevention as well as proper nutrition and exercise.
Tome sounds like a great kid who's really got his act together and is ready to make some serious change in the lives of these kids. "I hope to continue to impact the lives of under privileged children, renovate new courts for them to learn and play on and continue making an impact on social change in general."
Shooting Touch, Inc. has three goals: to help EDUCATE young people about life skills including setting and achieving goals; to MENTOR all players and give support whenever needed; and to COACH the fundamentals of basketball to improve individual confidence both on and off the court.
The non-profit group Shooting Touch, Inc. has established a first-of-its-kind, ‘Sabbatical Program’ that will grant select graduating college seniors the rare opportunity to experience a 10-month international, independent study anywhere in the world. With proud supporters Reebok, International Powerade and Tekcan,Inc. on board, the program mission is to give back to the global community and create positive social change through the sport of basketball.
Applicants from colleges and universities of all levels are welcome to apply. Each student application includes a detailed mission statement and outline of the goals each applicant would like to accomplish throughout the 10-month, self designed program. Upon acceptance, all grantees will be awarded a stipend of $25,000 to fund their experience. Interested American students, graduating in December of 2010 or Spring of 2011, should contact Shooting Touch, Inc.www.shootingtouch.com to download an application for the program. The deadline for applying is 12/31/10.
Shooting Touch, Inc. has overseas affiliates across the globe, including The Kossengwe Foundation in Nigeria, the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Program in Senegal and the NBA's Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy. Shooting Touch, Inc. recommends that the Sabbatical nominees consider and reach out to of these affiliates while designing his/her work program. However, it is important to stress each individual has the flexibility to use his/her own entrepreneurial spirit to design their own journey and program. His/her main goal is to use the sport of basketball as a platform to influence positive social change in each country. How this is accomplished is up to each Sabbatical Grantee.
www.shootingtouch.com