May, 2023 – By NBA Draft Room
Welcome to the very first edition of Community Spotlight, where I highlight a well deserving nonprofit that is using basketball as a tool for making a meaningful impact in the world.
The Spotlight is on Giants of Africa, a nonprofit organization that uses basketball as an avenue for youth in Africa to reach their full potential, not only on the basketball court but as leaders in their communities.
Co-founded in 2003 by Toronto Raptors Vice Chairman & President, Masai Ujiri, and basketball scout Godwin Owinje, Giants of Africa offers basketball camps, builds courts, and engages with communities across Africa.
They inspire young athletes across Africa to dream big!
GOA is currently operating in 17 African countries and one of its initiatives, Built Within, is to build 100 new basketball courts. Recently, the organization completed six new basketball courts in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Somalia. The new courts in Kenya bring the total number of GOA courts in Kenya to nine.
These courts not only support the development of basketball players but also create jobs, provide community gathering spaces, and support the development of future leaders.
We often say that basketball is love. Giants of Africa is “basketball is love” in action.
Get inspired by Giants of Africa and give a gift to support their work!