Skip to content
In Montreal’s Centre-Sud neighborhood, a unique program is changing the game for vulnerable youth. For over 25 years, Bien dans mes baskets has been supporting teens at risk of dropping out of school by cultivating their perseverance and offering them much more than just an opportunity to get active.
Bien dans mes baskets is more than an extracurricular activity. It is a school-based psychosocial initiative in which basketball becomes an intervention tool to reach young people outside the framework of formal clinical services.
The approach is grounded in the development of social skills, respect, teamwork, and the joy of being active together. By experiencing small victories on the court, coaches and intervention workers help young people build self-confidence, believe in their potential, and push themselves further.
The results speak for themselves: 96% of the young people who completed the program continued their studies, an impressive rate given the obstacles many of them face.
Each week, boys and girls come together not only to train, but also to reflect, support one another, and grow together. The program includes a range of activities and workshops designed to foster the development of skills that can be transferred to school and everyday life: emotional regulation, teamwork, respect for rules, healthy lifestyle habits, and self-confidence.
For many young people, Bien dans mes baskets becomes a place of belonging where they can build trusting relationships with adults and peers. Some adolescents have few or no positive role models in their lives, and these relationships become a source of inspiration and guidance that extends well beyond the gym.
Success is also built on self-confidence and access to enriching experiences. Thanks to generous partners such as Sphère Basketball, some participants in the program even have the opportunity to attend basketball skills camps free of charge during spring break and summer holidays.
These opportunities open doors they might never have crossed otherwise. By training in a structured, inspiring, and inclusive environment, young people can develop their athletic skills, strengthen their team spirit, and – most importantly – continue to believe in their potential, both on the court and at school.
We sometimes forget that education is one of the most powerful social determinants of health. Educational attainment influences access to employment, income, and housing, as well as the ability to care for one’s physical and mental health. The data are compelling: on average, a person who earns a high school diploma has a life expectancy seven years higher than someone who does not. By supporting academic perseverance from adolescence onward, Bien dans mes baskets goes far beyond sport—the program helps lay the foundations for a longer, healthier, and more stable life.