How Music and Sports Work Together To Aid Children In Need
by Tenesha Green | WeINSPIRE Reporter
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — While all of his peers were beginning their careers in 2014, Jason Steinberg was unsure of what path he’d pursue. Steinberg, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was sure of one thing -- he did not want to find himself sitting behind a desk all day.
Jason Steinberg. Photo Courtesy of Jason Steinberg
When the opportunity to teach international high school students English arose, Steinberg was elated. Joining WorldTeach, Steinberg found himself packing his bags to travel over 7,000 miles away to the Federated States of Micronesia.
After noticing his students in the back of the classroom pretending to play basketball, Steinberg extended an invitation to play basketball after school. Filled with excitement, many students accepted the invitation without hesitation.
Steinberg quickly realized, though he was prepared with sneakers, he was the only one. The students either played barefoot or in flip flops. As the games wrapped up, students explained they were walking home because they had missed the only bus that would take them home.
“Poverty is through the roof there,” he said. “Teenagers have every responsibility under the sun. But despite all of this it was worth wild for these kids to play basketball. Even if that meant they had to have bloody feet or walk almost ten miles to get home.”
Steinberg realized he could activate his network and call upon the greater International community to enact a change. Using social media to raise awareness and solicit a great deal of monetary donations, Steinberg was able to help students get sneakers and jerseys with their names on them.
Four of Steinberg’s students with the jerseys that were made for them. Photo Courtesy of Jason Steinberg
Other students with the custom jerseys along with sneakers. Photo Courtesy of International Sports and Music Project
Observation and attentiveness guided Steinberg into the realizations that availing items as seemingly simple as sneakers and musical instruments, were having a profound and immediate impact on the children he was working alongside. With the addition of sports, music, and Steinberg’s incorporation of his guitar into the classroom, kids who previously came to school with heads hung low seemed to do better academically. Further, these things appeared to fuel the passion of the children.
Steinberg with several of his students. Photo Courtesy of International Sports and Music Project
This lived experience and two long years of hard work, led Steinberg to found and become the executive director of the non-profit organization International Sports and Music Project (ISMP) in 2016.
“ISMP helps to bolster mental health amongst individuals,” he said.
ISMP’s Logo. Photo Courtesy of LinkedIn
As of today, ISMP has locations in Rwanda, Uganda, New York, and two in Greece. Some people question why Steinberg went global first instead of staying in the U.S.
“If you’re a kid waking up in a refugee camp, there is not a lot to be happy about,” Steinberg said. “We’re making sure that kids have something important to grip onto in time of their lives where it’s really easy to grip onto destructive things.”
Two girls that have attended ISMP. Photo Courtesy of Jason Steinberg
Steinberg and ISMP are always open to support, monetarily and/or through sponsorships. Volunteers are needed at the Covenant House in New York City, a homeless shelter for teens.
“We want to help make the world an easier place to live in,” Steinberg said. “If you’re in New York City you can volunteer through our website.”
Steinberg is very proud of ISMP and how far the program has come since 2016.
“We’ve now launched partnerships on four continents,” he said. “We have helped hundreds of children and families find inspiration, enjoyment, and expression at challenging times in their lives.”
