Broader Impact
We created this website to share the story of the Crescer Sempre Basketball Project and to inspire others to take similar initiatives. Our goal is to show that meaningful change often begins with small, consistent actions. What started as weekly basketball practices turned into an opportunity for students to grow, connect, and make a positive impact within their community.
We believe that projects like this one demonstrate how dedication and teamwork can go beyond the court. Every small effort — whether teaching a new skill, organizing a class, or helping a teammate — contributes to something larger. Over time, these simple actions build stronger communities, develop leadership, and motivate others to take part in creating positive change.
By presenting our work through this website, we hope to encourage other groups to start their own projects, regardless of their size or resources. If each person contributes in their own way, the collective impact can be truly significant.
About
Us
Introduction and Goals
The Crescer Sempre Basketball Project is a weekly program designed to engage students in physical activity, teach basketball fundamentals, and foster teamwork. Classes are held every Wednesday, with the goal of providing an inclusive and supportive environment for all participants. Our team consists of 10 athlete students who used to play basketball competitively for the Graded Schools team. The club is an opportunity for us and the students to grow and learn from each other.
The project was planned to teach students basketball fundamentals while encouraging leadership and active participation. Each session was designed to provide clear instructions, structured activities, and opportunities for students to develop teamwork and communication skills. Basketball is not a common sport in the area of Paraisopolis, the greatest shawty town in São Paulo. Providing this opportunity for students allows them to begin a new sport at the same time, making the experience more collaborative and fair for all. But most importantly, our project wanted to create trust with the students and evoke a friendly relationship. Students from Graded are from very distinct and privileged social or cultural backgrounds, and it's important for them and us to better understand, respect, and support each other.
Implementation
“During the first weeks, the club successfully engaged students in productive sessions, despite a smaller number of participants. Over the following months, the club adjusted its methods to improve clarity and participation, including creating flexible plans for each session. More students enrolled in our classes, and our team started to play basketball with the students during the classes. Students wanted to prioritize fun over drills and warm-ups, and we decided to adapt to those preferences, creating an entertaining space for the students during the time we had together. Our major issue was with leader participation, especially during final exam periods, leading to occasional cancellations, but students and leaders adapted and continued to develop their skills.
Outcomes
Throughout the semester, the Crescer Sempre Basketball Project achieved meaningful progress both on and off the court. Students became more engaged and confident as they developed their basketball fundamentals and teamwork skills. The consistent weekly practices helped them build discipline and a stronger sense of commitment to the group.
The project’s leaders also experienced growth in their ability to organize and conduct sessions effectively. Early challenges—such as unclear instructions and the lack of a structured workout plan—led to valuable lessons in planning and communication. Over time, the club implemented new strategies, including assigning leaders to create flexible, pre-planned sessions, which made the classes more organized and efficient.
Even when participation declined during the IB final exam period, the club showed resilience by adapting to scheduling challenges and maintaining student motivation. These experiences strengthened the leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration skills of everyone involved.
Overall, the project not only improved the students’ physical and social development but also strengthened the club’s ability to manage activities with organization and purpose. This progress demonstrates how consistent effort and teamwork can turn challenges into opportunities for collective growth.
Nicholas
It is a great experience to visit and work in Crescer Sempre. When I arrive at the campus and see more than 20 kids waiting for me to take them to the courts, I feel a small nervousness. In that moment, I must take the position of a leader, and sometimes I have trouble communicating and stay 5 minutes trying to explain a simple drill, or miss a simple layup and feel embarrassed, or even forget the name of a student. Yet, when I start teaching, it is extraordinary. From the common goodbyes to the hellos and the high fives, all of them bring such positive energy to my life. The sensation of not knowing what will occur in that day makes every class more interesting than the next. Every student is different from each other, yet sometimes I see myself in them. I always used to have difficulty focusing, listening, and absorbing information. When teachers taught their subjects to me, I always used to zoom out, and although people around me warned me of this, I never seemed to truly understand the implications of my actions. Even small actions, such as giving an individual feedback to a student, smiling at the students, and asking a simple question about their day, can make a change that we might not understand the length of its effect. In my case, tennis was a refuge for me to escape the difficulties of my day-to-day, and I hope that I can make my classes what tennis was to me for my students. Hence, every day we must adapt towards the needs of our students, and I am glad that I got to have this opportunity to grow and help others too.
Tristan
I find immense joy upon arrival at Crescer Sempre, seeing the kids patiently wait for us. I can feel the excitement and anticipation of taking the courts. Basketball has always been a sport I love. It provided an escape from school, or any other stress I was feeling, not only being physical exercise, but also an outlet for my mind. Watching the inextinguishable smile on the children's faces, which endures through any mistakes, has shown me the escape that this project has created for the kids. To know that these kids are able to utilize basketball as an outlet, similar to myself, brings me tremendous happiness. I still remember the first time I missed a jump shot when demonstrating an exercise, being met with jokes from the kids. However, instead of being embarrassed, these jokes made me laugh, and became a funny experience for all, even at my expense. I have grown closer to each and every one of the students, sharing countless laughs and smiles. These kids have shown me the importance of finding joy in life, even when you make mistakes. Furthermore, the friendships I have seen forming on the court, along with the growth, make me proud of what our project has accomplished, and motivated me to continue working together.
Rafa
Every time I walk into Crescer Sempre, I’m reminded of what a privilege it is to be there. Teaching basketball to these kids is more than just running drills or explaining plays; it's a lesson in patience, communication, and empathy. At first, I thought I was going there to teach, but I quickly realized that I was learning just as much as they were. Each session challenges me to express myself clearly, to stay calm when things don’t go as planned, and to lead not by control, but by example.
When I was younger, I struggled a lot with expressing myself. I often knew what I wanted to say or how I felt, but the words wouldn’t come out right. That’s why being able to stand in front of a group of students and teach them now feels like a milestone of perseverance. It’s proof that the things that once held me back can become the same things that push me forward.
Some days, the kids are full of energy and it can get chaotic. But those are the moments that test me and teach me the most. I’ve learned to take a deep breath, to be patient, and to remind myself that leading isn’t about control; it’s about connection.
What makes Crescer Sempre special is how real it feels. The smiles after a good play, the jokes when I miss a shot, the excitement when they improve it’s all so genuine. I see parts of myself in these kids: their curiosity, their energy, their occasional frustration. And in teaching them, I’ve learned not only to be a better leader, but also to be kinder and more patient with myself. This project has shown me that growth doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time, and I share this time on a basketball court with twenty kids who remind me, every week, why I love doing this.