In 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the world, two young men followed their hearts. For Vid Milenkovic and Malik Kourouma, (almost) everything revolves around basketball. In 2020, they set out to grow the basketball community in Zurich and beyond. To them, basketball isn’t just a game – it’s a way of life. “Basketball is a passion that permeates everyday life. Or to look at it another way, Bölle changes lives, as our work in Guinea has showed us” says Vid. We’ll come back to the pair’s passion project in Africa later.
But for now, let’s wind back to where it all began – in preschool. Vid and Malik were inseparable from an early age. Their enthusiasm for basketball was almost boundless, and both boys dreamed of going pro. Since then, their focus has shifted away from their own basketball careers. Malik studied law, and is currently completing an internship in Zurich. After various trips abroad, Vid has moved to Norway, where he will become a father for the first time in the summer of 2024.
Bölle isch Lebe now holds twelve camps every year,
and its main focus is on supporting the next generation. Vid organised his first basketball camp, held in Zurich, in 2018. Demand for places among aspiring young basketballers was high – matched only by Vid and Malik’s conviction that they wanted to do more for the game in the long term, which led them to found “Bölle isch Lebe” in 2020. Twelve camps are now held every year throughout Switzerland, and basketball is also played for a week in Vid’s new home of Trondheim during the summer.
The camps offer children and young people the opportunity to improve their skills, experience team spirit and make friends. “Our camps are aimed at basketball enthusiasts – regardless of experience or gender – aged 6–21. This year, we’re organising two camps especially for girls,” explains Malik, who holds everything together during the camp weeks. And the law intern is more than happy to give up his holidays to do so.
On a difficult mission in Guinea
Vid and Malik’s work now stretches far beyond Norway. Back in 2021, the duo made the decision to take their project to Guinea – Malik’s second home. In the West African country, which has long been plagued by political instability and infrastructural issues, they set basketball courts for children who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to play the sport.
Malik explains that this year’s trip was the most difficult to date. “We completed our fourth project in Guinea in 2024. Conditions were extremely challenging, as the country is in the midst of a politically volatile situation. Despite the constant power cuts, unrest in the streets and heavy rainfall, we still managed to build both a football pitch and a basketball pitch for the orphanage that we were working with,” Malik recalls. “The smile on one child’s as he scored his first basket was priceless,” Vid adds.
Her vision: more projects in poorer countries
“Bölle isch Lebe” is financed from income generated from the camps, sponsorships, fundraisers, donations and merchandise sales. This broad support enables the project’s founders to continuously develop their vision. “Our motivation is to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. We want to inspire and help them unlock their potential,” Malik says.
Their project is proof positive that a simple idea can lead to great things. Vid and Malik have built a thriving basketball community within a very short period of time – and they’re just getting started. Where do they see their project in ten years’ time? “Bölle is growing into a community that achieves great things. We’re dedicated to setting up projects in poorer countries, supporting talent around the world and driving the growth of basketball. Our mission goes beyond sport: we create opportunities, change lives and build bridges between cultures,” the pair say. Without a doubt, just how much can be achieved with commitment and passion.
Mobility supports Bölle isch Lebe
Mobility has been a partner of “Bölle isch Lebe” since 2022. For Guido Zehnder, Head of Marketing Communication at Mobility, the decision to sponsor the project couldn’t have been easier: “We fell in love with the idea from the get-go. Since then, we’ve been trying to support the boys from Bölle by providing cars at the right time and in the right place – after all, many people have to be driven from A to B during a camp week. We don’t see this as a standard sponsorship: for us, it’s about enabling a sustainable and shared experience for the next generation and beyond. We hope that the founders still have plenty of energy in the tank and that we’ll be able to support this project for a long time to come.”
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