Siaya Region of Kenya: Why Basketball Part 2?

The basketball project that I am working to develop is located in the Siaya district of Nyanza Province, about forty-four kilometers from Kisumu, in western Kenya. This is largely a rural area and it is an area of extreme poverty where residents struggle daily with issues ranging from hunger, malaria, AIDS, water and sanitation issues, fuel shortages, etc.  You may ask, therefore, if there is so much need in the Siaya region, then why am I working so hard to support basketball?  This is a valid question and one that I have given a great degree of thought.  Yet, when people ask me, "Why basketball?", I respond,  "Why not?"

I am not suggesting that basketball development is in any way more important that HIV prevention, malaria prevention, food security, clean water, or any of the other issues that rural Kenyan citizens face daily due largely to the persistence of poverty.  Clearly, it is not the most important issue but I think most would agree that education is, at least, of equal importance to the items above and it has been, in fact, identified as one of the "Big Five' development interventions that could help to reduce poverty in rural areas.  Physical education is an integral component of a well rounded education and as such is important to the health and well being of students.  Basketball and other team sports can be an effective way to teach and instruct students about sport and about important life skills.

Moreover, I am also comforted by the the fact that many of the other issues related to poverty reduction are being addressed by the work of CanAssist African Relief Trust.  CanAssist is doing an excellent job of providing infrastructure support in Africa and I recently witnessed, first hand, the power of positive change to create real and measurable health gains.  For example, the construction of water wells has decreased the prevalence of waterborne illness dramatically and a simple solution, like the paving of classroom floors can dramatically decrease the incidence of jiggers, a debilitating physical health problem caused by a small flea which lives in the soil.

What truly inspires me to stick with this basketball development project is the awareness of the transformational power of organized sports.  Working on a team sport can not only teach teamwork but it also fosters leadership skills, goal setting, resilience, perseverance as well as inspiring hope and joy.  I have witnessed this first hand while watching, both my son, and the students at my school, learn all of the valuable lessons provided by sport.  For example, I have watched my son transform from an eager and energetic boy, to a hard working athlete and now he has emerged as a sports leader and role model for youth.  Sport provided him with opportunities to grow and to develop and refine important leadership skills.  That is the value of my "Basketball Story".  


I also take comfort from the knowledge that I am not alone in this passion.  After all, the President of the Toronto Raptors has created a foundation called, "Giants of Africa" whose mandate is similar to my own.  The mission of "Giants of Africa" is to use basketball as a means to educate and enrich the lives of African youth.  The Giants of Africa foundation provides facilities and gear with the goal of growing the game within Africa.  They put emphasis on hard work and positivity, goals that are inheritently valuable.  Finally, the organization urges the youth of the nation to dream big.  This is what I am trying to do, on a much smaller scale, at the St. Catherine's School in Ramula, Kenya.  

I am fully cognizant of the reality that very, very few kids who play organized sports make it to the big leagues.  I am not looking for the next "Giant of Africa".  I am not looking for the next big NBA star or Division 1 recruit.  What I am looking for is the chance to provide opportunities where they did not exist before.  Arguably, it is true that many committed athletes go on to be leaders in their community and it is that knowledge that keeps me going.  The solutions to poverty reduction will require strong leadership from the citizens themselves.  The students who develop leadership skills on the basketball court will possibly be some of the village leaders in just a few short year.  This is the goal and I believe it is an honourable one.


Finally, I have to admit that I had no idea that when I took a single basketball to the St. Catherine's School that things would develop in this way but in retrospect I should have expected it.  Basketball is a great game and one that the students will be able to play and enjoy for most of their lives.  I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to share my passion for the sport in this way and I thank you for your support and encouragement to help make this happen.  In closing, I must state that the final motivating fact which keeps me going is this.  In response to the question of why develop basketball, my response is this.  If not me, than who?  Perhaps you will join me in this quest.  Together we are stronger!