Goducate introduced a sports program in Laguna Province, Philippines, about a year ago. We used basketball to help youths with a passion for the game. We started by organizing a league match in two villages (Puy-puy and Tranca). Within a few weeks one boy was offered a place at a university on the strength of his basketball ability. The program has also offered other youths employment opportunities as basketball referees and table officials.
Early in February Goducate introduced volleyball in Tagumpay, a small lakeside town that was badly affected by flooding during a storm last August. A one-day volleyball league was organized. 8 teams participated. It started at 9 am and continued right up to 2 am. 90 people filled the hall. The winning team (Team San Pedro) was made up of high-school students, who each received a small cash prize. They will be offered more volleyball and team-building training at a camp in March.
Goducate hopes that this program will keep youths off the streets, train them in discipline, team-building and other characteristics, and enable some of them to get sports scholarships to schools or universities.
