Fouta Basketball Academy turns Matam camp into civic school

At Matam, the Fouta Basketball Academy is using basketball to support young people beyond their sporting development, linking training with education, social responsibility and personal growth. The academy brings together participants from across the Fouta region through an annual camp built around sport and civic learning.

The programme is supported by the Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal through its Youth and Citizenship project, with backing from the French Development Agency. During the latest camp, the young players took part in film screenings, educational discussions, reflection workshops and exchanges with their supervisors. These activities addressed issues affecting their daily lives while creating space for dialogue outside the court.

The academy also organised a shared meal with talibé children, giving the participants a practical lesson in empathy and solidarity. Its approach places discipline, respect, mutual assistance and community life alongside basketball training. Parents have welcomed the combination of athletic practice, citizenship education and personal development, while coaches and organisers see the camp as a way to help young people become more engaged members of society.