CANBERRA (Australia) - For Christella Kalsrap, the future of basketball in Vanuatu starts with creating pathways for young girls to step onto the court with confidence. Her story is a reminder that when girls are supported to learn, grow, and dream within the sport, the whole community moves forward.
Following her participation in the 2026 Women in Basketball Leadership Program, Kalsrap was selected for an internship in Melbourne, Australia, providing hands-on exposure to coaching, athlete development and the delivery of basketball programs at an elite level.
Already involved with the Vanuatu Basketball Federation, Christella Kalsrap entered the program with a clear ambition: to strengthen her coaching knowledge and bring those skills home to support long‑term basketball development. For her, the experience wasn’t just about personal growth, it was about building the foundations that young players in Vanuatu often don’t have access to.
One of her biggest goals is to establish a dedicated basketball program for children aged 6 to 10 in Port Vila, creating a safe and structured space where kids can learn the basics, fall in love with the game, and begin their development journey early . By investing in this age group, Kalsrap hopes to spark a new generation of players who grow up with confidence, opportunity, and a clear pathway in basketball.
My dream is to see basketball grow across my beautiful island nation, Vanuatu. I believe introducing basketball to younger kids will help them grow their understanding and skills of the game. When they are introduced at an early age, they can grow to love the sport and continue getting better
Learning from Australian Basketball
During her internship, Kalsrap gained practical experience through She Hoops activities and the Australian Opals environment.
She supported clinics and worked alongside experienced Australian coaches and athletes, including Australian Opals Assistant Coach Cheryl Chambers and 2006 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup champions Belinda Snell and Laura Hodges.
Kalsrap also volunteered with She Hoops, supported fan engagement activities and experienced the environment surrounding the Australian Opals’ international series against China.
For Kalsrap, seeing how clinics and development pathways operate in Australia provided practical ideas she can adapt back home.
“The clinic was an amazing experience. I saw a lot of new drills that I can use for the clinics I will be running back home,” Kalsrap said. “She Hoops really opened my eyes to how well the pathway program is run throughout the country.”
The experience also allowed Kalsrap to build relationships with coaches and athletes interested in staying connected and supporting future clinics and coaching opportunities in Vanuatu.
Developing Women Leaders Across Oceania
Kalsrap’s internship represents the next step in a broader leadership pathway created through FIBA’s Women in Basketball Leadership Program.
As part of FIBA’s global Women in Basketball strategy, the program develops emerging female leaders by building their skills, confidence and networks, with the aim of strengthening basketball organisations and communities across Oceania.
Supported by PacificAus Sports, the 2026 program brought together 11 women from eight National Federations for online learning and an in-person workshop, with participants developing skills across leadership, communication, governance, safeguarding and community impact. Kalsrap and Samoa’s Theresa Masoe-Taimalelagi were subsequently selected for internship opportunities in Australia.
“Opportunities like this give women in the Pacific a chance to further their experience in the development of sport,” Kalsrap said. “I believe opportunities like this can benefit not only the individual, but the organisation as a whole.”
Taking the Experience Home
With the internship complete, Kalsrap’s focus now turns to Vanuatu.
She plans to share her experience with the Vanuatu Basketball Federation, continue developing her coaching skills and explore how the connections she established in Australia could support basketball development at home.
Most importantly, she wants to turn her ambition for junior basketball into action.
“Now that I have more experience in running clinics, I believe I can start building the development program for kids’ basketball in Vanuatu,” Kalsrap said.
I know I will have the support of many of the people I networked with during my time in Australia, as well as the support of our Federation and the League.
As the basketball community celebrates International Day of the Girl Child this week, Kalsrap’s experience is a reminder of the impact that investing in girls and women can have beyond the individual - creating role models, strengthening communities and opening pathways for the next generation.
For Kalsrap, that journey now continues at home, where she hopes the next generation of girls in Vanuatu can discover their own place in basketball, on the court, on the side lines and as future leaders of the game.