Ubumwe Sport Initiative helped my dreams come true…
UBUMWE sports initiative is a non-profit organization that works in different parts of the country and in our district of Rusizi. Since USI started working in Rusizi it has helped youth between the ages of 6 and 17 to understand the values of unity that affect their daily lives, they take those values and share them with their families and neighbourhoods. This program helps them change their behaviours through the game of basketball and the values of USI, such as communication, unity, teamwork, building trust, fair play, focus, responsibility and others. The coaches were also able to receive different training such as positive coaching, conflict resolution and so on. Due to the program children have changed their behaviour in a significant way, a change that helped them improve their relationship with their siblings, partners and friends by avoiding conflicts and helping those who are experiencing conflicts.
Not only that children are able to learn the core values of USI but also to understand the tragic history of our country through the event ‘Walk to Remember’ - that takes place at each site (7 sites) every year in April during the period of commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsis in April, 1994.
During the holidays USI brings together hundreds of children in the UBUMWE CAMP activities where the children practice the game of basketball. The coaches also teach them the values of unity through small group activities, and in the end parents and officials join the children in the process. We call that “COMMUNITY DAY” where the children show what they have learned in the end, and they all get together and share their stories alongside snacks and drinks.
As a coach in the program ‘Ubumwe Sports Initiative’ has helped me achieve some of my dreams, like becoming a professional coach that strives to help children improve their skills in the game of basketball. It had always been a struggle for the youth to get the best basketball skills training, but since the ‘Ubumwe Sports Initiative’ started its activities in RUSIZI, everything started to get better. With the help of ‘Ubumwe Sports Initiative’ principles I was able to learn how to handle myself in the practices of the youth and also how to act around my family (Kids and Wife). This program also helped me support my family financially.
It is very clear that if ‘Ubumwe Sports Initiative’ didn’t exist in the first place, my dreams would not have come true. Ubumwe has helped to develop the youth's self-confidence through the values and principles that we teach them, camps and the other activities and events associated with the program.