One of the most successful American exports to the Balkan region has been the game of basketball.  This American sport, in which success relies on both discipline and precision teamwork, has become a popular pastime in all of the new nations of the Balkan region, leading to significant representation in both college and professional basketball leagues around the world. 

This two-week program brings future leaders from the Balkan states to the United States to study and discuss ways productive coexistence, and to learn about and consider ways in which they can contribute to build tolerant communities in their home countries – all through the lens of their interest in basketball.  With a line-up of speakers, workshops, service projects and team building activities, this program utilizes the participants' unifying passion for basketball to reach the desired outcome of transcending ethnic tension and new borders to develop leadership skills in today's youth. 

The program will expose participants to the rich ethnic heritage of the United States, its embrace for diversity, and the history of how basketball provided an avenue for young men to have opportunities to develop and apply their leadership capacity.  Program participants will return home motivated to share their newfound empathy and passion for coexistence within their own communities.

Program details:
Participants will spend their mornings together on the basketball court, running drills and scrimmaging together on multinational teams.  Afternoons will consist of diversity workshops, speakers from academic and professional backgrounds, and team building activities. Evenings will be cultural and recreational in focus.

Dates: July 24-August 2, 2008
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Program Size: 12 participants
Cost: $250 USD per selected participant 

Included in the program costs:

Not included in the program costs:

Participant requirements: 
The ideal participant is a self-motivated university student with a proven strong academic background and demonstrated commitment to community involvement.  Participants will be students who have completed at least one year of university studies at the start of the program, and have a high level of conversational English.  Most important, every participant must have a demonstrated passion in playing basketball.  The level of talent is not important, as the program’s focus is leadership and tolerance for cultural diversity.  In fact, individuals with different levels of talent only enhances the opportunity to rely more on teamwork.  The relationships built through the program go beyond those established on the court.  All participants must be physically capable of playing at a competitive level of basketball.

AIPT will select participants from Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Macedonia. 

To apply:
All applicants must complete the online application by clicking here.

For more information on PLAYMAKERS: A Global Leadership Program, please contact:

Gregory Seiler
AIPT
10400 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 250
Columbia, MD 21044
gseiler@aipt.org
(1) 443.539.0539