The court was alive even before the first whistle. The ball slipped through the air, a clean arc, the sound of it brushing the net met with a burst of laughter. For a second, everyone forgot who was the mentor and who was the student.
October 1st marked Ankeng Elementary Community Basketball Day, a special event celebrating basketball, community, and the dreams of these young players. What filled the air was laughter, a kind of energy that had nothing to do with electricity yet felt just as powerful.
A year has passed since AMPOWER launched the Three-Year, One-Million Program, a commitment made to help New Taipei’s Ankeng Elementary School basketball team grow stronger. The aim was simple: make sure every child who dreams of the game can keep playing, with the right gear, coaching, and space to grow.
Aside from the financial support, rows of new basketballs lined the court that day, bright against the ground. They came from AMPOWER’s partner, Semisils, whose circular innovation connects industry to childhood in the most unexpected way.
Semisils repurposes silicon slurry waste from semiconductor factories into silicon dioxide—a key material to produce basketballs and shoes. What begins as industrial byproduct returns as motion, laughter, and the rhythm of the game.
Voices from the Court
One student stepped forward to share their thoughts:
“Thank you aunties and uncles for supporting us! With our new uniforms and shoes, every practice feels brighter, and we’re inspired to work even harder. We hope to bring pride to our school with every game we play.“
These words were a simple expression of gratitude and determination. In that moment, the connection between students and visitors felt tangible, each side learning from, encouraging, and inspiring the other.
When the games ended, students and AMPOWER colleagues gathered for a warm dinner, exchanging stories instead of scores. The gratitude from the school community filled the evening like warmth after rain—unspoken, genuine, lasting.
That day, the children’s dedication radiated from within, not from any funding. In their focus and joy, AMPOWER felt again the purpose of our ESG work: to remain present in the lives we touch, not simply to follow policy.