Luther College women's basketball team donates uniforms to Hoops 4 Hope

The Luther College women's basketball team has donated 24 Luther basketball uniforms to the Hoops 4 Hope organization, headquartered in Capetown, South Africa.

Hoops 4 Hope has been promoting youth development throughout southern Africa for more than 15 years. Using sports as a catalyst for social and personal change, Hoops 4 Hope provides more than 10,000 school-age children with organized basketball and soccer programs for free.

"These uniforms have been amazing for us; it has boosted a lot of confidence and commitment to our young women in the program," said Kita "Thierry" Matungulu, the director of Hoops 4 Hope in South Africa. The group partners with more than 150 schools, children's shelters and community groups in Zimbabwe and South Africa to help children become healthy and productive adults.

From May 21st through 31st of this year the Luther College women's basketball team spent 10 days in South Africa as a part of a service trip in association with the Hoops 4 Hope organization. The team first visited South Africa in 2009, and returned last spring to Johannesburg and Cape Town to work in partnership with the African Youth Development Fund, Miles and Associates International and the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society.

While in South Africa this year, the team hosted clinics at orphanages that taught children to play basketball, competed against some of South Africa's top women players and reconnected with the South African friends and partners they met in 2009.
           
Luther head women's basketball coach Amanda Bailey said, "This experience has made us realize that little things that we take for granted such as our uniforms, practice facilities and equipment are a rarity and privilege for others who have much less."

This is the second time Luther has collaborated with Hoops 4 Hope and donated uniforms. "There is a connection that [the team and the girls share that is far deeper than the uniforms on their backs," Bailey said.