Beijing, China July 14-17 EVENT PARTNERS

He was speaking to a group of 300 young students at the Huilei Elementary School, one of the first Chinese schools established for the children of migrant workers, and the youngsters understood his message. When the school was built in a northern Beijing suburb in 1997 it gave students like 15-year-old Zhang Shanshan a rare chance to realize their dreams of learning. “It used to be that without a Beijing residence permit you couldn’t go to school,” she said, “but Huilei took us in.”

Dalembert and San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, New Orleans Hornets forward Bostjan Nachbar, and Philadelphia 76ers forward Kyle Korvervisited the school to dedicate a new Reading and Learning Center and a new basketball court for the NBA’s Legacy Project, which has made more than 100 similar donations to improve educational opportunities around the world.

During the ceremony – attended by U.S. Ambassador to China Clark Randt, Reebok China Chairman Willie Yang and China Charity Foundation Vice President Su Qingyu – a dozen students stood on the new court and recited a poem: “Our school is small,” they said. “Our classrooms are dark… But we do our assignments, and our grades are good.”

Dalembert, who grew up in Haiti, was visibly moved by the performance. “I have to tell you guys,” he said, “I grew up in the same situation, reading by candlelight, struggling in school. But I knew nothing was going to stop me.” He offered his experience to the students as proof that they can succeed despite tough circumstances. “My advice to you,” he encouraged them, “is to take advantage of every opportunity every day.”

The new Reading and Learning Center, to which the U.S. Embassy donated 50 computers, and the basketball court, sponsored by Reebok, will provide long-term encouragement. “I like basketball,” 12-year-old Guo Xiaomin said, “but I’m not very good yet. Now I’ll be able to practice more.”

Huilei School Principal Pan Ziyin said conditions have improved since 1997 because the Beijing government now recognizes and supports the school, but the administration lacks funds. None of the classrooms have air-conditioning, there had been no library and, “except for some worn-out uniforms, we didn’t have any equipment for sports,” he said. “The students could only run around in this dusty yard.” Most of the students’ families, he added, earn less than $100 a month. The donations, he said, “will make a great impact in the lives of the students.”

In the Reading and Learning Center an air-conditioner buzzed quietly as students thumbed through thousands of new books. The walls were covered with posters of WNBA and NBA players – both playing basketball and reading. Nine-year-old Shan Jiashuang sat on a bright yellow cushion and listened to Dalembert and Parker read poetry. “I really want to read all these books,” Shan whispered. “There are so many.”

Other students gravitated to the rows of new computers. “I’ve never used the Internet before,” Zhang Shanshan said. “But I’ve heard you can find all kinds of things on it.”

U.S. Ambassador Randt told the students that basketball was invented more than 100 years ago “by a teacher for his students.” Through the Basketball without Borders Asia program, he said, the NBA is “continuing that spirit of service to students.”

After the ceremony, Korver and Nachbar posed with students for photographs on the basketball court. “It’s important for these kids to have this court,” Korver said. “Basketball taught me a lot. It taught me work ethics and how to be a team player. It’s great for these kids to have a chance to play.”

Twelve-year-old Guo Xiaomin, for one, couldn’t wait to hit the court. “One day I hope I’ll be able to play in the WNBA,” she said. It’s a big dream that just got a step closer.