Paysandú launches free youth basketball program

The “Básquetbol en el Patio” program has launched in Paysandú, Uruguay, offering free basketball classes to children and adolescents aged 10 to 14. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Administración Nacional de Educación Pública (ANEP), the local Intendencia, and the Liga de Básquetbol de Paysandú.

Designed as part of the Educational Time Expansion policy, the program aims to promote sports development, social inclusion, and community coexistence. Classes are held twice weekly after school hours at various educational centers and community spaces, including Club Libertad, Escuela n.º 71, and several locations in San Félix and Nuevo Paysandú.

The project is scheduled to continue through 2029. Participation is open to all children within the target age group, regardless of whether they attend the specific institutions where classes are held. The program seeks to provide athletic alternatives in areas where such opportunities have previously been limited.