For many girls living in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp, basketball has become much more than a sport. It is creating opportunities for education, leadership, personal growth, and a brighter future.
Through the Refugee Basketball Initiative (RBI) programmes held at the Kakuma 1 Zone 5 basketball court, girls are provided with a safe and supportive environment where they can develop their basketball skills while building confidence and learning essential life skills. Beyond improving physical fitness, the programme also promotes mental well-being, teamwork, discipline, resilience, self-confidence, and sound decision-making.
Refugee Basketball Initiative (RBI) Founder and Executive Director, Lich Gatkoi Puok, said the organization’s mission is to use basketball as a platform to empower refugee girls and youth through education, talent development, mental health support, and access to academic opportunities both locally and internationally.
According to Puok, RBI has become a bridge to educational opportunities for many young people. Several players who have participated in the programme have earned scholarships to schools and universities abroad, thanks to their basketball talent and commitment both on and off the court. These success stories continue to inspire many young refugees to believe that sport can transform their lives.
“We believe every girl deserves the opportunity to reach her full potential without discrimination. Through basketball, we are nurturing confident young leaders who are equipped to create positive change within their communities,” said Puok.
Since its establishment in 2020, the Refugee Basketball Initiative has impacted thousands of refugee and host-community youth in Kakuma by providing sports training, leadership development, and life skills education. The organization has also built partnerships with international institutions to expand educational opportunities and create pathways for young people to pursue higher education and personal development.
For the girls of Kakuma, basketball is no longer just a game,it is a pathway to education, leadership, and hope. Through the work of RBI, dreams that once seemed out of reach are becoming reality, as a new generation of empowered young women is being shaped through the transformative power of sport.
