Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a commitment of AWS AI and cloud technology to support the growth of NBA Math Hoops, a basketball-based educational program that empowers youth ages 8-14 to develop foundational maths and social-emotional skills.
AWS will provide nonprofit Learn Fresh with AI tools, cloud infrastructure, and technical expertise to bring its program to 10 000 students across five countries in Africa – including 1 000 in South Africa – by the end of 2027. The planned expansion builds on Learn Fresh’s 3-year pilot that has trained more than 100 educators in South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique.
Maths learning gaps remain among the most persistent barriers to economic opportunities on the continent. UNESCO estimates that in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 90% of students aged 6 to 14 are not achieving minimum proficiency in numeracy.
Learn Fresh’s NBA Math Hoops program has rigorous evidence of impact – a randomized controlled trial conducted by WestEd found that students gained 4 to 5 months of math learning after just 17 to 24 hours of program exposure – but scaling that model across five countries requires investment and infrastructure that Learn Fresh could not build alone.
AWS is providing support through the Education Equity Initiative (EEI), a $100-million commitment of AWS technology and technical expertise to fuel digital solutions for underserved learners globally. AWS services will power the NBA Math Hoops mobile app and game on a continental scale. Amazon Bedrock will personalize content, such as math challenges, helping to match each student’s level and learning pace. Amazon Translate will localize content into English, Arabic, French, and Swahili, making the program accessible to students across multiple countries. And Amazon Quick will give Learn Fresh real-time visibility into student engagement, learning outcomes, and educator performance – data that will inform program improvements and demonstrate impact to funders and governments.
Francessca Vasquez, vice-president of frontier AI engineering and services at AWS, comments:. “By combining Learn Fresh’s proven curriculum with NBA Africa’s reach and AWS AI and cloud technology, we can give students in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, Dakar, and Cairo access to a learning experience that is engaging, personalised, and built to scale. This is what it looks like when technology serves as a force for good.”
Students and educators will access NBA Math Hoops through NBA Africa’s network of offices, partners, community-based organisations, and schools. Educators will complete a structured training program – delivered in part through AWS-powered digital tools – before introducing the program to students. Students aged 8-14 will use the NBA Math Hoops game to draft fantasy basketball teams, solve algebra problems using real NBA and WNBA player statistics, and compete in localised tournaments.
The first round of regional tournaments across all five countries is planned for the first half of 2027, with continental tournament participation tied to the Basketball Africa League Finals by 2030.
“We believe basketball can be a powerful gateway to education, leadership and opportunity,” says Clare Akamanzi, NBA Africa CEO. “Through NBA Math Hoops, young people develop critical math and problem-solving skills by engaging with the game they love, and our collaboration with AWS and Learn Fresh will help us bring this impactful program to thousands more students across the continent. By combining the appeal of basketball with innovative technology and proven educational tools, we are helping equip the next generation with the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.”
“Learn Fresh believes in the power of STEM education on a global scale. Through this partnership, we are able to deepen our collaboration with NBA Africa and build upon our foundational work in South Africa and across the continent,” says Calvin Sibert, chief mission officer at Learn Fresh.