Hoops and Baskets

Empowering young women athletes in Africa through sports, education, and leadership.

Image: Rodnae Productions on Pexels

Introduction

Shades of Us Storytelling Initiative for African People (Shades of Us) launched the Hoops and Baskets Project to create sustainable opportunities for young women who are basketball athletes in Africa.

The project recognizes basketball as more than a sport—it is a platform for self-determination, education, and social transformation. Through the game, young women develop confidence, leadership, and agency, while gaining access to academic, social, and economic opportunities.

Hoops and Baskets combines athletic development with education and rights-based empowerment. It supports young women to take control of their narratives, make informed decisions about their lives, and redefine what it means to be a female athlete in Africa.

By investing in sports infrastructure, mentorship, and education, Shades of Us seeks to create safe and inclusive spaces where young women can grow as players, thinkers, and community leaders. The project embodies our belief that every young woman deserves the tools and freedom to reach her full potential—on and off the court.

Goals

Provide young women across Africa with access to quality basketball training, coaching, and mentorship.
Empower participants to develop leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through sports.
Strengthen access to education and rights awareness among young women athletes.
Build community-based sports programs that promote inclusion, visibility, and gender equality.
Challenge stereotypes and cultural barriers that limit women’s participation in sports.
Establish regional and continental partnerships that sustain long-term opportunities for female athletes.
Use basketball as a platform for civic engagement and community transformation.

Behavioral Objectives

Foster a sense of agency and autonomy among young women athletes, enabling them to make confident choices about their futures.
Build self-efficacy and leadership, helping participants see themselves as capable decision-makers in sports, education, and community life.
Promote collective empowerment, where peer networks encourage mutual support, teamwork, and advocacy for equality.
Encourage young women to challenge restrictive gender norms through active participation and visibility in sports.
Strengthen voice and representation, ensuring that female athletes are seen, heard, and valued as role models and changemakers.
Inspire participants to lead community initiatives—from coaching younger girls to organizing advocacy events on gender equity in sports.
Cultivate a culture of discipline, fairness, and integrity that extends beyond the basketball court into academic and civic life.

Behavioral Change Model

The project is guided by the Socio-Ecological Model, which recognizes that empowerment must happen across multiple levels—individual, social, community, institutional, and policy.

At the individual level, Hoops and Baskets equips young women with confidence, leadership skills, and the belief that they can influence their own lives.
At the social level, the project fosters teamwork and peer mentorship, building networks of support and accountability.
At the community level, it engages schools, families, and leaders to normalize women’s participation in sports.
At the institutional and policy levels, it advocates for gender equality in sports governance, resource allocation, and representation.

This multi-layered approach ensures that empowerment is not temporary but structural—anchored in communities, institutions, and the everyday experiences of women athletes.

Key Activities

Annual 3x3 basketball tournaments in key African cities, showcasing women’s talent and leadership.
Athlete development programs combining training, mentorship, and academic support.
Documentary production to tell the stories of young women athletes and the impact of the project.
Community engagement campaigns encouraging families and leaders to support women in sports.
Educational support and scholarships for girls pursuing academics alongside basketball.
Monitoring and evaluation to track performance, participation, and impact across regions.

Audience

Young women and girls aged 13–25 who are basketball players or aspiring athletes.

Parents, guardians, and educators advocating for girls’ education and empowerment.

Community leaders, coaches, and mentors committed to gender equity in sports.

Sponsors, donors, and development partners supporting youth and women’s initiatives.

Schools, universities, and sports organizations seeking collaboration.

Reach

Between 2023 and 2030, Hoops and Baskets aims to reach at least 500,000 young women athletes across Africa through tournaments, training, mentorship, and leadership programs.

Young women in Africa with basketball opportunities between 2023 and 2030.

Partnerships

To scale impact, Shades of Us partners with national and international basketball associations, schools, NGOs, corporations, and sports brands.

We also work with ministries of sports, education, and women’s affairs to promote inclusive policies, while collaborating with professional teams, athletes, and media organizations to amplify visibility and inspire participation.

If you or your organization would like to partner with us to expand opportunities for women athletes in Africa, please contact us at info@shadesofusafrica.org

Shades of Us Storytelling Initiative