The Basketball Africa League (BAL), New Fortress Energy (NASDAQ: NFE, a global energy infrastructure company founded to help accelerate the world’s transition to clean energy) and Trees for the Future (an international non-profit organization focused on training farmers to regenerate their land) today launched the first BAL Green Legacy School Project at Lycee Yoff Village in Dakar, Senegal.

The BAL Legacy School Project is part of BAL Green, the league’s environmental initiative that leverages the collective platform of the BAL, its teams, players and fans to advocate for greater environmental responsibility, make a positive impact on people’s lives, and help develop the next generation of environmentally conscious leaders.  As part of the initiative, the BAL provides select schools with resources to create real-life experiences that influence behavioral patterns, including improving access to water and sanitation, implementing school-wide recycling and composting programs, teaching gardening and agriculture, and establishing cleanup and planting days.

As part of the project launch at Lycee Yoff Village, the BAL, NFE and Trees for the Future together donated handwashing stations and recycling bins, cleared ecological waste from public spaces, expanded a Forest Garden, refurbished student desks and a well area, and created additional spaces where more than 2,000 students can live, learn and play.  BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, BAL Global Ambassador Luol Deng and Trees for the Future Director Cherif Djitte attended the launch event.

“The Green Legacy School Project is a great initiative to help educate the next generation about the importance of preserving our environment and inspire them to lead the way to a more sustainable future,” said NFE Chairman and CEO, Wes Edens.  “Protecting our environment while transitioning to cleaner, more affordable energy is central to our mission at NFE and we are proud to work with the BAL and Trees for the Future in this vital effort.”  

“We are excited to partner with NFE and Trees for the Future to launch our first Green Legacy School Project in Senegal,” said Fall.  “Following the BAL’s successful inaugural season in May, we remain committed to making a positive impact in the communities in which we work and look forward to expanding our work with these partners in the years to come.”

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to share sustainable practices and agricultural lessons with the next generation of leaders in Senegal,” said Djitte.  “Our work with the BAL this year is critical to achieving impactful change for people and the planet.”

During the inaugural BAL season in May 2021, the BAL and NFE collaborated with Trees for the Future to launch “Threes for Trees,” which donated three trees for every three-pointer made during the BAL season.  In total, the BAL and NFE donated $30,000 and more than 100,000 trees to farmers and non-profit environmental organizations in Senegal and other African countries.