The Power of Sport for Vulnerable Youth

At only 14 years old, Ange Kwizera stands at an incredible five foot five inches, a height that serves her well in  her favorite pastime; basketball. Ange believes her natural love for the game would have remained buried inside her, had she not grown up in an SOS family. 

Ange lost her mother soon after she was born. Her father could barely feed the six children left in his care with his meagre income, not to mention take care of a new born baby. So at three months old, Ange’s childhood and future was entrusted to an SOS family in Bujumbura, Burundi.

 In this nurturing environment, her insatiable appetite for basketball developed into a deep-rooted passion. An eighth grader in SOS Hermann Gmeiner Secondary School, Ange is now a basketball enthusiast. In the backdrop of the upcoming Olympics in Rio, Brazil, she talks about her favorite sport.

"Basketball gives me wings"

Tell us about your relationship with sports you like. Do you play regularly? Do you practice every day?

“I like basketball. Every time I jump up into the air to shoot a ball I feel as if I have wings, as if I could fly away. It is an amazing experience. I practice for one hour on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with the direction of a coach. I need to grow my skills to become a great player.”

Ange tries to dribble past an opponent during practice at SOS HG Secondary School in Bujumbura, as the coach (in the background) looks on.

When did you start liking this sport?

“I started liking this sport when I was in primary school. When I was just a little girl growing up in the SOS village. I loved watching the sports programme on television which was always broadcast after the children's entertainment cartoon show. The programme gave a summary of all sports events of the week in the country. I remember feeling disappointed when no basketball matches featured in the programme. My consolation was that I would watch a live match in the village basketball court on Saturday. The neighbors came to play there and I stayed around the field, watching them as they played. I actively ran after the ball when it bounced off the court and threw it back to the team. I felt as if I was part of the squad - it was enjoyable.”

Do you think discipline is required in sports? Why?

“Of course discipline is a requirement otherwise everyone would do as they pleases in the field and this would create chaos. I see sport as a kind of business venture. To run this business, we need rules that members must collectively respect and follow in order to achieve the intended goal and for fair play.”

In your opinion, what is the MOST significant lesson you get from playing?

“Fair play, I have learnt to forgive an opponent when they attack me unjustly, courage to stand my ground even when I am harassed by an opponent. But the most important of all, respect - respect towards rules and people.”

How does sport inspire you to overcome your challenges and win adversity?

“Sport has helped me develop some personal values ​​like the spirit of commitment, self-confidence or self-esteem, teamwork as well as respecting people and rules. With these qualities I am able to face adversity without fear.”

Who is your sports idol? (Optional: Is there any athlete who will participate in the Olympics that you know and like?)

“Kevin Durant, the American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma is my idol. He is a winger, large, elegant and versatile player. He is also an excellent shooter. I watch him on YouTube and during the NBA season. I also like that Kevin is a rapper, after basketball he turns into a singer. Most sportsmen are entrepreneurs, they are involved in one trade or another but not singing. Kevin is unique in this way.”  

Ange proudly shows off her skills while shooting hoops in the SOS HG Secondary School basketball court in Bujumbura.

“I am eagerly waiting for the upcoming Olympics because two Burundians will participate - Francine Niyonsaba and Diane Nukuri. Francine will do the 800 meter race while Diane will be in the marathon. I hope our team shines so Brazilians can sing our national anthem. I know they will find it difficult to pronounce Kirundi words (she laughs).”

What is your dream about the future?

“I dream to see sports developed in Burundi, especially basketball. I also hope to grow in the game to become a great player someday. I am lucky to be in a school that natures my talent and encourages me and my team to perform well. The sad part is that after high school, unless there is quick intervention, this wonderful dream will be over. There are only three women's basketball teams in our country, so it is not easy to gain admission into these teams. The school basketball team that I belong to is really good. The squad won five national cups during inter-school championships for five successive years, and an additional three trophies in other competitions.”

“Sport in Burundi must be developed if we are to get the opportunity to fully exploit our talents. Who knows? One of our teams may be fortunate enough to participate in the Olympics in future, and I could part of that team!”

Find out how you can sponsor children like Ange to help them get closer to achieving their dreams.