STAR STAR BASKETBALL BASKETBALL RECREATION RECREATION

Background to the Background to the ProgramProgram

Is an organisation that was started in 2006 by Is an organisation that was started in 2006 by young people in the Sudanese Communityyoung people in the Sudanese Community

In 2007 STAR Basketball developed its first In 2007 STAR Basketball developed its first basketball training program in Blacktown with the basketball training program in Blacktown with the support of SydWest MSI, Blacktown Police, support of SydWest MSI, Blacktown Police, Blacktown PCYC and Blacktown Youth Services Blacktown PCYC and Blacktown Youth Services AssociationAssociation

Initial core funding is provided by SydWest MSI Initial core funding is provided by SydWest MSI under the DIAC funded Youth Projectsunder the DIAC funded Youth Projects

Since its first training program in 2007 SBR has Since its first training program in 2007 SBR has gone from strength to strengthgone from strength to strength

South Stars, SBR Senior South Stars, SBR Senior TeamTeam

These are the senior team players and they are the one that coaching and mentoring the younger kids who are involved in the program.

Some SOUTH STARS team members stoped participating in the basketball trainings and games due to other commitments (study and work) but they are still involved in supporting junior teams of SBR in coaching And mentoring them.

Aims and ObjectivesAims and Objectives• To give young people in Blacktown the opportunity to develop a love of basketball

• To develop sports and youth relationships among African young people and the wider community in Blacktown

• To disengage young people from participating in anti social activities

• To provide opportunities to young people in engage in mainstream sporting activities

• Leadership development including the managements Leadership development including the managements are group of progressive, engaged and active youth are group of progressive, engaged and active youth looking to make a difference by getting involve in the looking to make a difference by getting involve in the academic and sport area.academic and sport area.

Who is Participating in the Who is Participating in the Program?Program?

This program is designed to assist young people 12 – 24 yrs inThis program is designed to assist young people 12 – 24 yrs inBlacktown LGA who are unable to enter mainstream basketballBlacktown LGA who are unable to enter mainstream basketballcompetitions with over 50 participants. competitions with over 50 participants.

Many of these young people are from newly arrived refugee and Many of these young people are from newly arrived refugee and migrant communities such as Sudan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, migrant communities such as Sudan, Sierra Leone, Liberia,

DRC, DRC, Ghana, Iran, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Thailand and Pacific Ghana, Iran, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Thailand and Pacific

Islands. Islands.

The largest group in the program The largest group in the program are young males from 14 – 18 are young males from 14 – 18 years of age. years of age.

STAR Basketball STAR Basketball ActivitiesActivities

1.1. Weekly Basketball Training at Blacktown Weekly Basketball Training at Blacktown PCYCPCYC

2.2. Participating in Mainstream Local Participating in Mainstream Local LeaguesLeagues

2.2. Linking Participants to further training Linking Participants to further training opportunities e.g. opportunities e.g.

3.3. Developing Community Galas and Developing Community Galas and CompetitionsCompetitions

4.4. Working with sporting, youth and other Working with sporting, youth and other organisationsorganisations

1. Weekly Basketball 1. Weekly Basketball Training Training

The program runs free training for young The program runs free training for young people at Blacktown PCYC on: people at Blacktown PCYC on:

TuesdaysTuesdaysThursdays Thursdays SaturdaysSaturdays

Coaches are Mayor Chagai Coaches are Mayor Chagai and Andy Kenyi with the and Andy Kenyi with the support of other community support of other community coaches when neededcoaches when needed

2. Participating in Mainstream 2. Participating in Mainstream Local LeaguesLocal Leagues

There are currently 48 young people in the Mount Druitt League and 2 are in NSW Youth league There are currently 48 young people in the Mount Druitt League and 2 are in NSW Youth league representative. representative.

Mainstream competition is important for the young people to not only develop their skills in Basketball Mainstream competition is important for the young people to not only develop their skills in Basketball but create teams work and a sense of belonging among the groupbut create teams work and a sense of belonging among the group

Young people in the program Young people in the program have developed stronger relationshipshave developed stronger relationshipswith the teams in the local league over with the teams in the local league over the years which promotes the years which promotes community harmony and respect. community harmony and respect.

3. Developing 3. Developing Community GalasCommunity Galas

Organising community galas within the Sudanese CommunityOrganising community galas within the Sudanese Community

- Regular Sydney vs Newcastle galasRegular Sydney vs Newcastle galas- Canberra GalaCanberra Gala- Hosting the Annual Sudanese Australian Interstate Hosting the Annual Sudanese Australian Interstate

tournament in 2009 and 20019 with over 250 young people tournament in 2009 and 20019 with over 250 young people from around Australia competingfrom around Australia competing

Organising free galas for young people Organising free galas for young people

in Penrith and Mount Druitt in Penrith and Mount Druitt

Participating in other community galas Participating in other community galas

Working with sporting, Working with sporting, youth and other youth and other organisationsorganisations

SydWest Multicultural Services Inc.SydWest Multicultural Services Inc. Blacktown PoliceBlacktown Police Blacktown Police Community and Youth ClubBlacktown Police Community and Youth Club Blacktown Youth Services Association Blacktown Youth Services Association Blacktown Storm Blacktown Storm Basketball Australia Basketball Australia NSW Department of Attorney General NSW Department of Attorney General Com4unity Com4unity Youth Off The Street Youth Off The Street Midnight BasketballMidnight Basketball

Strategies to SuccessStrategies to Success The time & commitment of the youth founders and coaches The time & commitment of the youth founders and coaches

is central to the support of the projectis central to the support of the project

Providing consistent and reliable programming for young Providing consistent and reliable programming for young people to develop trustpeople to develop trust

Flexible approach by services providers Flexible approach by services providers

to respond to the needs of the programto respond to the needs of the program

while encouraging community ownershipwhile encouraging community ownership

and decision makingand decision making

Maintaining communication withMaintaining communication with

parents through regular phone parents through regular phone

calls and parent information sessionscalls and parent information sessions Support provided from many different people and Support provided from many different people and

organisations organisations

Linking training with information sessions to Linking training with information sessions to cater to young peoples needscater to young peoples needs

Developing youth leadership within the program Developing youth leadership within the program through training and advocacy opportunitiesthrough training and advocacy opportunities

Linking sport with education supportLinking sport with education support

Providing positive role models andProviding positive role models and

mentor to young people, particularlymentor to young people, particularly

those without an adult male role those without an adult male role

model in their lifemodel in their life

ChallengesChallenges Developing trust among young people, many of whom Developing trust among young people, many of whom

are from refugee backgrounds and face multiple are from refugee backgrounds and face multiple settlement challengessettlement challenges

Providing transportation in the program (this has Providing transportation in the program (this has particularly affect the girls program)particularly affect the girls program)

Securing ongoing funding for the project including local Securing ongoing funding for the project including local league participation costs, venue hire, equipment etc.league participation costs, venue hire, equipment etc.

Catering to the growth of the program with limited Catering to the growth of the program with limited resourcesresources

Time restrictions for coaches Time restrictions for coaches

AchievementsAchievements Feedback from parents and local services (including the Feedback from parents and local services (including the

police) indicate a rapid improvement in young peoples police) indicate a rapid improvement in young peoples behaviourbehaviour

Developing strong links with sporting associationsDeveloping strong links with sporting associations Developing the African Youth Project with SydWest MSI Developing the African Youth Project with SydWest MSI

through DIAC SGP Grants through DIAC SGP Grants Receiving funding and support from Blacktown Workers Club, Receiving funding and support from Blacktown Workers Club,

NSW Attorney-Generals, Community Relations Commission NSW Attorney-Generals, Community Relations Commission and NSW Sport and Recreation and Blacktown Advocateand NSW Sport and Recreation and Blacktown Advocate

Providing recognition of the contributions of African young Providing recognition of the contributions of African young people through media in the Blacktown Advocate, SMH, Daily people through media in the Blacktown Advocate, SMH, Daily Telegraph and Penrith PressTelegraph and Penrith Press

Developing relationships with mainstream sporting Developing relationships with mainstream sporting associations such as Basketball NSW, Basketball Australia etcassociations such as Basketball NSW, Basketball Australia etc

ContactsContacts

Mayor Chagai Mayor Chagai dolemayor@yahoo.com

Ph: 9621 6633Ph: 9621 6633

Andy KenyiAndy Kenyiandykenyi@yahoo.com

Ph: 9621 6633Ph: 9621 6633