On our last day in Eastleigh – a neighborhood in Nairobi where many Somali refugees have found community – we’re returning to our friend Jamila and the wonderful ideas she has to make her neighborhood a better place for all who live there.
Jamila knows that the benefits of sports – of exercise, of moving around – are universal. She knows its’ power to form friendships, encourage teamwork, and help people heal from trauma. And, she knows that these benefits shouldn’t be restricted to boys – girls should have access to the power of sports, too.
So for Day 111, we teamed up with Jamila to form a new basketball league in Eastleigh – one for girls.
We rented a basketball court and a coach in the heart of Eastleigh, and gathered a group of interested girls from Jamila’s network. And then, the fun began.
“We used this opportunity to teach the girls the importance of teamwork and healthy competition,” said Jamila. During intervals, the girls had time to get to know each other better over snacks and drinks. And after the match, they agreed to keep meeting every afternoon – to practice.
While on the court, these young girls can forget their worries for a while. They can concentrate on working together, feeling comfortable in their own skin, feeling the joy of a job well done. It’s a place to experience friendship and positivity, even in the face of scarcity all around. With just some small resources, we were able to make this simple thing happen. A simple thing, that could change the way they see the world forever.
