How It All Begins
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How It All Begins 〰️
In the summer of 1993 Yacouba Sangaré, a Nigerien basketball player and student at the American Embassy in Niamey, received a scholarship from the US embassy in Niamey to attend a basketball camp at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. The opportunity was made possible thanks to Sue Rosenfeld the Director of the English Language Programs and a Dickinson College graduate. Inspired by his experience, Yac. returned to Niger with a vision to share his experience with young people in his community. He started a basketball camp for Nigerien kids called ‘Niamey Hoops.’ Niamey Hoops providing them with access to structured training and mentorship. By 1997, his initiative expanded beyond Niger, launching its first camp from the United States, laying the foundation for what would become Hoops4Kids—a program dedicated to empowering youth through basketball, education, and life skills development.
Mission
Our mission is to empower and inspire youth to reach their fullest potential by providing opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and community engagement. Since our founding in 1997, we have been committed to nurturing the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of young individuals, believing that every child deserves a chance to thrive.
Meet The H4K Team
Yacouba Sangaré
CO-FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Born in Niger, Yacouba Sangaré founded the Hoops4Kids organization in 1993 in Niamey, Niger. After moving to the USA, the organization became a not for profit organization in the State of New York. Yacouba played for several basketball teams in Niger ( AS SNTN, AS UGAN & AS BUROPA.)
Yacouba graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Boston where he earned his BA in Black Studies. Yacouba then received his Masters in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Yacouba is a middle school teacher. Yacouba also founded two students led social justice clubs: The Oneida Students for Anti-Racism (OSAR) and LoudForChange.
The Rest of the Team
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The Rest of the Team 〰️
ADAMOU ABDOURAHAMANE Collaborator
TIEMOGO SANGARE Collaborator
University of Rochester, present. . St. Michael’s College, in Vermont. Co-Founder of the Saratoga Black Lives Matter in Saratoga NY.
Tracy Sangaré
CO-FOUNDER, GRANT WRITER
Tracy Sangaré is an educator and an inspiring social justice activist. She is a National Board Certified teacher in her twenty-seventh year of teaching. Tracy specializes in teaching Multi-Lingual Learners at the elementary level. Tracy's expertise is not confined to conventional teaching approaches; rather, she thrives in exploring and advocating for innovative educational strategies that resonate with the principles of liberation education.
ABDEL AZIZE GANDA Collaborator
H4K ‘97 & ‘98. Played at MassBay Community College - 2011 NJCAA NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS, 2011 NJCAA DIII MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. 2011 NCAA DIII Framingham State University where he graduated, class of 2014.
SAMIRA SANGARE Collaborator
Currently at Columbia University. She played basketball in college. Samira has a BA in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Keane State University. Co-Founder of the Saratoga Black Lives Matter in Saratoga NY.
ADAM GOURO Collaborator
Gouro played at Murray State College from 2018-20. He played at Bethel College (Kan.) Currently he is the Men’s Basketball Graduate Assistant at Cameron University in Kansas
AISSATA BAKO H4K Representative, Niger
She studied physical education in France. She played for the Nigerien Women's national basketball team. She runs a youth basketball school in Niamey.
MOUMOUNI HAMA DJIBO Collaborator
Born in Niamey, Niger. He attended the first Hoops4Kids camp in 1993. After moving to the USA, he joined the Hoops4Kids organization as a collaborator. Played for ASAF and BUROPA