Bouncing back: how one refugee is transforming lives through basketball

Meet Mapendo Sadiki—a young refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo who is breaking barriers and building dreams on the basketball court in Zimbabwe.

"For me, basketball is more than just a game – it's a way to uplift my community," says Mapendo with pride.

In October 2024, Mapendo joined the Tambai Zimbabwe "Basketball Against Marginalisation and Exclusion" initiative in the Tongogara Refugee Settlement. With training as a youth coach and referee, she has taken on a leadership role, focusing on getting more girls and young women involved in the game. This is no ordinary effort; it’s part of the Equal Play Effect Africa Network and the FIBA Foundation’s Gender Action Plan. Together, these initiatives aim to create opportunities for girls in sport, develop female role models, and ensure gender equity across the board.

Mapendo’s passion stems from personal experience. “I was told I was too young to play.” Now, she is helping girls believe they are never too young—or too anything—to chase their dreams, and her work is paying off. Mapendo is reshaping her community’s perception of whatis possible for women in sport and is proving that sport can be a powerful force for inclusion, empowerment, and change.

“It’s refreshing to see an organisation that encourages participation from as young as four years old”, she shares.

Mapendo’s story is one of resilience, vision, and the unshakable belief that change starts with us. Through basketball, she is paving the way for a new generation of empowered girls and showing us all the true meaning of teamwork.

by Mercia Takavarasha