Colombian 'DREAMS COME TRUE'
Camp Director Buller works with youth basketball group in Bogota, Colombia
Hoop Dreams Director Jordan Buller is pictured above with a group of the "Enjambre" youth players in Bogota, Colombia. During his trip to Colombia, Jordan volunteered some of his time to working with this incredible group. The "Enjambre" is a basketball focused youth group that meets 3 nights a week for basketball practice in a barrio (neighborhood) on the west side of Bogota. The group was started by Juan Saison as a way to help keep young people out of gangs and drugs, as there are not a lot of positive outlets for youth in the area.
Jordan was put in touch with Juan by a mutual friend, and it was arranged for him to come out to their practice a few nights. Jordan was thrilled at the opportunity to share some of his knowledge and love of the game with some underprivileged kids in Colombia. The group is made up of around 60 kids, varying in age from 7-19. With only 1 court to practice on, the space gets very tight. The club also has a collection of about 30 balls, most of which have seen their better days. Even with these limited resources, the club is thriving and there is a lot of positive energy around the club. Some pictures from the practices from May 2014 with Coach Buller are below, and you can find more information and pictures about the "Enjambre" by friending them on facebook!
Donate today to help us bring some better equipment and gear down to this extraordinary group of kids!
Jordan was put in touch with Juan by a mutual friend, and it was arranged for him to come out to their practice a few nights. Jordan was thrilled at the opportunity to share some of his knowledge and love of the game with some underprivileged kids in Colombia. The group is made up of around 60 kids, varying in age from 7-19. With only 1 court to practice on, the space gets very tight. The club also has a collection of about 30 balls, most of which have seen their better days. Even with these limited resources, the club is thriving and there is a lot of positive energy around the club. Some pictures from the practices from May 2014 with Coach Buller are below, and you can find more information and pictures about the "Enjambre" by friending them on facebook!
Donate today to help us bring some better equipment and gear down to this extraordinary group of kids!
Hoop Dreams Come True : El Enjambre - May 2014
At the end of Jordan's time, the group presented him with a few colombian gifts. Jordan was very moved by the demonstration and gifts, and is hoping to return again in 2015 bearing gifts of his own for the group!
Teeth For Narcisso - 2nd DREAM Hoop Dreams is hoping to fulfill this year!
In the northern part of Colombia during the 80’s and 90’s there was much violence and displacement of rural people for the drug cartels and traffickers. Jordan’s sister Jes works with a small organization (Zembrandopaz) that works at helping those communities who were displaced return to their land and work through the emotional damage that was done. Zembrandopaz owns a small farm just outside of Sincelejo where they are working at sustainable agriculture and citrus production. While the farm was in tatters when purchased, it has come along beautifully, thanks in no small part to Narcisso.
Narcisso was a leader of his community back in the 1990’s, well known and respected in his area, and owned a profitable farm of about 10 acres. Narcisso was a voice against the drug lords and traffickers in his area, encouraging people to resist the aggressive drug trade gangsters. There were many threats on his life during this time. Finally, one day in 1998, a man showed up at his farm and put a gun to Narcisso’s face. Without even giving Narcisso and family a chance to leave, the man pulled the trigger. By an unbelievable miracle, the bullet ricocheted out of Narcisso’s mouth and after 3 weeks in the hospital he was able to escape his area. Zembrandopaz took him in and allowed him and his wife Manuela to live on the farm in exchange for tending to the land.
Jordan has been blessed to work for Narcisso and get to know him the past 2 years while down visiting his sister. Narcisso has helped turned the farm in to an actual place of production. He is a bright and funny man, and has made almost a full recovery. He still grows dark and sad when talking about his home and the event that brought him to the brink of death. While most of the physical wounds have healed, the one thing that he has not been able to do is afford a full mouth of teeth. Jordan, through Hoop Dreams Inc, is hoping to bring Narcisso a few hundred dollars to help him get a new mouthful of pearly whites. The bullet knocked out all but 2 of Narcissos teeth, which makes eating a bit tricky. He is also very self aware of his smile, although he would never admit it. It is something most of us take for granted, and a small gift Jordan would like to help provide for this wonderful man.
Narcisso was a leader of his community back in the 1990’s, well known and respected in his area, and owned a profitable farm of about 10 acres. Narcisso was a voice against the drug lords and traffickers in his area, encouraging people to resist the aggressive drug trade gangsters. There were many threats on his life during this time. Finally, one day in 1998, a man showed up at his farm and put a gun to Narcisso’s face. Without even giving Narcisso and family a chance to leave, the man pulled the trigger. By an unbelievable miracle, the bullet ricocheted out of Narcisso’s mouth and after 3 weeks in the hospital he was able to escape his area. Zembrandopaz took him in and allowed him and his wife Manuela to live on the farm in exchange for tending to the land.
Jordan has been blessed to work for Narcisso and get to know him the past 2 years while down visiting his sister. Narcisso has helped turned the farm in to an actual place of production. He is a bright and funny man, and has made almost a full recovery. He still grows dark and sad when talking about his home and the event that brought him to the brink of death. While most of the physical wounds have healed, the one thing that he has not been able to do is afford a full mouth of teeth. Jordan, through Hoop Dreams Inc, is hoping to bring Narcisso a few hundred dollars to help him get a new mouthful of pearly whites. The bullet knocked out all but 2 of Narcissos teeth, which makes eating a bit tricky. He is also very self aware of his smile, although he would never admit it. It is something most of us take for granted, and a small gift Jordan would like to help provide for this wonderful man.