The next Unity Games will be held on March 16-17, 2024.
Building Youth Unity in the Community
The Unity Games are not about basketball, but basketball is the means to reach out to the youth in the community. Participants are distributed onto teams to assure that each team is diverse and equal in abilities. The Unity Games are a two-day marathon of scheduled activities — basketball games, workshops, contests, and meals — that lay a foundation for the participants to get to know each other and to bridge the divide on their own.
6th, 7th and 8th graders are on the cusp of thinking independently, but are still malleable. Because they are still in intermediate school, they have not yet been exposed to as much negative stereotyping as those in high school. Individually and as a group, they are more open to positive experiences when presented in an interesting way.
The Unity Games gave me a chance to meet with many different people. The workshops were the best because the teachers taught us about many different cultures. I will never forget this time in my life.”
Azwad S.
Nearly every young person who participated in the 2010 Unity Games reported having made new friends during the Games, and 97% of those who did make friends reported they were of a different race or ethnicity. Over three-quarters (76%) believed it to be likely or very likely that they would stay in touch with some of the youth they met during the Unity Games.
