For a young refugee in Uganda, basketball is more than just a game

He saw young people, like him, arriving in Uganda after fleeing insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Many are trying to continue their studies, look for opportunities, and build a future amidst difficult daily lives.

Stephane knows how easy it is for young refugees to lose their way. “When I arrived here as a refugee, I encountered many challenges,” he said. “I saw how easily a young refugee could lose control of his future.”

For some people, he said, resettlement abroad feels like the only hope. But that process can take years, sometimes decades. Meanwhile, many young people are left waiting, with limited access to education, activities or employment.

This realization prompted Stephane and his teammates to push for change.

Empowering refugees

In 2020, he founded Refugee Basketball Academy (RBA), an initiative that empowers refugee and marginalized youth through sports, mentoring and education

He used the entrepreneurship training he received through the Cosmo Foundation to develop a small idea into a program that has trained more than 100 players.

The Academy hosts practices, tournaments and mentoring sessions. It also records videos of players to help connect them with schools and other opportunities.

So far, said Stephane, there have been seven young people who have received scholarships through the program.

But for him, his goal is not just to produce strong athletes.

“We don’t just build basketball players, we build leaders,” he said.

Full court press

Stephane’s days are full. He woke up early to train, attended Cavendish College, where he studied management and entrepreneurship, and then returned to the basketball court to coach and mentor young players.

He said the court gives young people structure, confidence and a place to feel part of something. For many refugee children and teenagers who have experienced war or displacement, basketball also offers a sense of calm they rarely have.

“When we are here, we feel at peace,” he said.

Stephane hopes to expand the academy to other communities and refugee camps in Uganda, so that more young people can access training, guidance and support to stay in school.

Redefining refugees

He also wants the younger generation of refugees to see themselves differently, not just as people waiting for help, but also as people who have skills, ideas and a future worth investing in.

“We left our homes,” he said of the refugees forced to flee. “But we brought talent with us.”

Passionate about youth leadership and sustainable development, Stephane is committed to contributing to development Agenda 2030 through empowerment, sports and education. In front of World Refugee Daythe message is simple: becoming a refugee should never be considered the end of one’s dreams.

For Stephane, the basketball court is one place where that dream can start again.