Alpha Ba is a CorpsAfrica Exchange Volunteer from Senegal. He has been serving at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi since 2017. In collaboration with Jesuit Refugee Services and a group of young basketball players from the camp (the "Dream Team"), Alpha secured support from the NBA to build a new basketball court for youth at the camp. The court now serves as a space for ongoing sports programs promoting dignity, social inclusion, and overall well-being for youth in this protracted refugee situation. See the video at right to hear directly from the incredible people involved in this exciting project.
| Download the Press Release for the court and inauguration here. Download File |
The Project: Key Points
- With an estimated 52,000+ people living there, Dzaleka is the largest refugee camp in Malawi. The camp was originally built to hold just 9,000 people. (Source: UNHCR)
- Primary countries of origin represented in the camp include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.
- The court was designed to provide the camp's large youth population with a productive outlet for developing crucial life skills. The court’s “Dream Team” aims to play in Malawi’s national league.
- The day before the basketball court launch, Catalyst Basketball Movement and Franck Traore of NBA Africa held a Coaches’ Training for over 30 coaches from the camp. These coaches will go on to lead basketball programs for youth promoting healthy lifestyles, teamwork, social inclusion, and discipline.
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