I think it's pretty interesting what Yao has been up to this weekend in Beijing. He was the star of the NBA (and FIBA's) grassroots basketball event - Basketball without Borders. The central concept is a regional basketball camp for the area's best players - they've held them in Europe, Africa (Deke is almost always a participant) and South America (with Manu). This camp in Beijing was the first - and they had invited the best young players from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Iran and Singapore, with NBA players serving as coaches (aside from Yao, Tony Parker, Boki, Kyle Korver and Samuel Dalembert were there) The cooler part of the event (in my opinion) is all of the community relations activities the players do - in Beijing they built a reading and learning center for a migrant school. (an aside - there's a large population of migrant labor in China - much like all of the laborers who come to the Southwest US from Central America. With the system of ID cards in China - it's very difficult for the childern of migrant laborers to receive education outside of their "home" province - so it's very cool that the project is helping schools which really need help.) I also wanted to highlight this - because it's my friend's project Anyways - there's lots of photos and reports on what the players did - including Yao here: Basketball without Borders - Asia
During the HIV/AIDS education portion of the camp - the players and coaches entertained a group of orphans/victims of AIDS (kids whos parents passed away from AIDS).
damn ... thats a good article. The truth of the matter is that the situation is very real and common in eastern countries.
That's a cute little girl. I wonder what she was specifically crying about there (maybe she was scared of Yao). Clearly, she's had a tough life. I'm glad they're raising awareness of AIDS. From what I hear, China's hasn't been the greatest at acknowledging and tackling the AIDS problem. Thanks, yaomania!
She's part of this group of orphans who are being cared for by this AIDS hospice group. They're all victims of AIDS - either having it (passed on by their parents) or they're orphaned directly as a result of it. My friend who was running this program said that everyone there was crying - all the kids were getting up to the microphone and describing their lives - how they had no clothes, no food, no heat in winter - they would never have any friends in school because the other kids were afraid of them. My friend was pretty broken up about this too.
Thanks for the details. It's a shame that there's still so much ignorance about HIV these days. I don't know if it's true, but I remember hearing that in some rural parts of Africa, men with STDs will sleep with young virgin girls because of a myth that they will be cured. Stuff like that just horrifies me.
Wanted to give this thread another bump... I think Bucher's motive in writing this article is touching -- the nba really should expand their contribution in similar programs like this. I think his experience in China really inspired him to get word out. yaomania, if your friend is running this program and considering the all star game is in houston this year, it could be a perfect opportunity to develop this. Instead of that lame half court shot for a million dollars crap, maybe have a contest where yao, our resident all star, would select a lucky fan to share an expense paid trip to China (I'm assuming Yao would be for this too). Hell it doesn't even have to be a Houston thing, expand it where Iverson picks a Philly fan, Duncan a Spurs fan etc etc. Most people entering the contest would view it just as a sweet vacation with celebrities, so there would definitely be people signing up. I don't know if something along those lines would be feasible or practical, but Bucher's idea stands: If the NBA wants to help its image problem, they should send the likes of Iverson, Spreewell, and D. Miles over there and capture every humbling face shot. Well anyways, just wanted to reiterate -- great article by Bucher -- very moving. I feel like cleaning a park or donating blood or something =p
I hadn't read Bucher's article. Definitely got me teary-eyed. His point about the impact on NBA players of coming as a non-celebrity is very persuasive. I wonder how government authorities feels about stuff like this. Would they view it as unnecessary nosiness or welcomed charity? What assurances are there that the migrant school will continue to serve its purpose?
Unfortunately, she's the executor of the program (or one of many I should say) - not the decision maker behind it. I don't have friends in high places. heh.
Touching article by Bucher. I'm glad Yao can take the time out of his busy schedule and rehabilitation and do something really mean the world to these kids. It's ironic that we only see Yao and a bunch of NBA player, besides Yao, there are no really big name superstars.
It's always humbling to read such articles, and see these NBA superstars be so profoundly affected by their experiences with the less fortunate. This is exactly why I have long admired those who give back to their communities not because they want good PR, but because they really care and are looking to be part of the solution, not the problem. If nothing else, this is why I love having people like Deke and Yao on our team. I should also mention T-MAc, because he does tons of stuff away from media attention and gives back whenever he can. That's what they mean by "character", it's not how you speak or act in front of the camera, but rather how you carry yourself when the cameras are off, and how much you do to help make this a better world to live in.
