Fifty young women benefited from a community outreach project held Saturday, July 27, at École Notre Dame De La Providence (ENDP) Karubanda, Huye District, as part of the 2025 Giants of Africa Festival. Themed ‘When women win, We All Win,’ the outreach programme gathered young women, aged between 15-19, at the basketball court built by Giants of Africa at ENDP in May 2024, providing an informal space for the girls to interact with coaches, share their thoughts, and reflect on their experiences. Masai Ujiri, co-founder of Giants of Africa was also present at the event, alongside partners Jess and Scott Lake, whose family sponsored the construction of the court. “Me being here is because of your energy and your growth. Many girls have come out of this school to play for the national team and have done well academically. That’s a reputation this school holds, and you must keep it,” Ujiri said. ALSO READ: Ujiri believes Africa has ‘everything’ to become great Candy Basomingera, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sports, emphasized the importance of initiatives like Giants of Africa in promoting sports for girls, both through skill development and infrastructure. “Programs like Giants of Africa strengthen our government’s efforts to promote sports among girls. There’s no reason to focus only on boys, we can and should do more to help girls participate in and benefit from sports,” she said. During the event, the selected girls were brought together for a session led by Sarah Zeinab Chan, a former professional basketball player and current lead scout in Africa for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. Chan shared her inspirational life story, growing up in South Sudan during the civil war, a time when opportunities for girls seemed non-existent. Despite the challenges, she credited her mother for being a constant source of motivation. “I remember during the most difficult times; our mother was always there for us. That inspired me to push forward, even when I faced discrimination because of my skin color. So, young girls, strive to excel in every opportunity you are given,” Chan said. Philomène Nyirahuku, the headmistress of ENDP, commended Masai Ujiri for his continued support and contribution to using basketball as a tool to empower young women at the school through Giants of Africa. “We have been promoting sports, especially for girls, since 1956. Thanks to your support, we are able to uplift women’s education and empowerment through sport,” she said. ALSO READ: What you should know as Giants of Africa Festival returns to Kigali Nemori Habayo Ikaze, a Senior Six student at ENDP, shared her excitement about the opportunity. “I’m happy to be here. I look forward to growing and developing. This shows that when girls are given a strong foundation, they can rise and become future stars,” she said. Ikaze and the other participants received basketball shoes, sports kits, water bottles, and bags to support their journey toward becoming professionals in the sport.
