United Africa helps mothers share in child’s growth journey through basketball
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Fadwa noticed positive changes in her daughter’s habits. Once prone to wake up very late, Israe now gets up early, especially on Sundays, and prepares her own breakfast. It’s a transformation, Fadwa said, that has grown from Israe's time with United Africa.
“She doesn’t need to be motivated— she is motivated,” Fadwa described. “She analyses the game and people around her, on the team and in the organisation; and she tries to contribute as much as possible, which she did not do before. In the past, she would do her part, and that was it.”
But it was more than playing the game that changed her daughter.
It was the way United Africa (formerly United Maroc) structured its sessions to integrate soft skills training, mentorship, youth empowerment and social inclusion; and the coaches who lead them.
“I kept coming because of the coaches, the conditions and the environment at United Africa,” said Israe, who first learned of the programme from a United coach at her school.
“There are many things I found at United that I didn’t find at other places, and that’s why I decided to stay. I was improving my basketball level little by little, and I want to continue to improve."
But it was more than playing the game that changed her daughter.
It was the way United Africa (formerly United Maroc) structured its sessions to integrate soft skills training, mentorship, youth empowerment and social inclusion; and the coaches who lead them.
“I kept coming because of the coaches, the conditions and the environment at United Africa,” said Israe, who first learned of the programme from a United coach at her school.
“There are many things I found at United that I didn’t find at other places, and that’s why I decided to stay. I was improving my basketball level little by little, and I want to continue to improve."
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United Africa delivers most of its programming in Morocco but also aims to inspire similar initiatives across the continent where sport, especially basketball, is used to empower youth beyond the playing field.
At the heart of the organisation is Je Joue, J'Arbitre, Je Participe (JAP), which means “I play, I referee, I participate” in French. Through this model, participants learn both on and off the court, gaining leadership skills, accountability and confidence. While they play sports, they also get involved in United’s other organisational activities that further develop real-world skills like event management, team leadership and organisational responsibility, setting them up for success in their future.
The programming is further strengthened by the Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (SESLA) initiative, which is in response to the fact that one in four young people in Africa are not in formal education or employment.
It’s not just the young people like Israe who benefit from United Africa’s programme.
Their mothers also participate through a monthly programme called Jib Mamak (Bring Your Mum). The aim is to foster family engagement and encourages them to be part of their child’s journey.
At the heart of the organisation is Je Joue, J'Arbitre, Je Participe (JAP), which means “I play, I referee, I participate” in French. Through this model, participants learn both on and off the court, gaining leadership skills, accountability and confidence. While they play sports, they also get involved in United’s other organisational activities that further develop real-world skills like event management, team leadership and organisational responsibility, setting them up for success in their future.
The programming is further strengthened by the Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (SESLA) initiative, which is in response to the fact that one in four young people in Africa are not in formal education or employment.
It’s not just the young people like Israe who benefit from United Africa’s programme.
Their mothers also participate through a monthly programme called Jib Mamak (Bring Your Mum). The aim is to foster family engagement and encourages them to be part of their child’s journey.
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Mothers would already bring their children to and from the sessions, so Coach Reda explained how they wanted to engage them more.
“It is education for the mothers, and it creates relationships with other children’s mothers.” Coach Reda said. “At first they didn’t know each other despite living in the same neighbourhood, bringing their children here and even attending the same events.”
During each sessions, mothers would play games and activities that convey the messages their children are learning, like teamwork.
That’s how Fadwa better understood how basketball was more than a game for her daughter, and how it can open up opportunities.
“I like to see Israe achieve good sporting performance, but I also would like her to explore other jobs that are at the core of sports, such as coaching, refereeing or anything in sports governance,” she continued. “I like to bring Israe to United because it’s also a safe space, and I would like to see her evolve more here.”
“It is education for the mothers, and it creates relationships with other children’s mothers.” Coach Reda said. “At first they didn’t know each other despite living in the same neighbourhood, bringing their children here and even attending the same events.”
During each sessions, mothers would play games and activities that convey the messages their children are learning, like teamwork.
That’s how Fadwa better understood how basketball was more than a game for her daughter, and how it can open up opportunities.
“I like to see Israe achieve good sporting performance, but I also would like her to explore other jobs that are at the core of sports, such as coaching, refereeing or anything in sports governance,” she continued. “I like to bring Israe to United because it’s also a safe space, and I would like to see her evolve more here.”
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In response to the fact that one in four young people in Africa are not in formal education, employment or training, Laureus Sport for Good, the International Olympic Committee and Agence Française de Développement alongside key African sport and social development institutions, have joined together to form the Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa program (SESLA). Launched in January 2024, SESLA is providing grant funding, training, peer learning opportunities and research, with the aim of leveraging the power of sport to empower young people to create more sustainable futures for themselves and their communities.
