APIA (Samoa) – The Her World, Her Rules program launched in Samoa as part of a confidence-boosting four-week training camp with Tama'ita'i Hoops Academy.
Through collaboration with the non-profit organisation Brown Girl Woke, this program was able to nurture self-belief among these young girls, as well as their athletic capabilities.
Her World Her Rules (HWHR) is a cornerstone grassroots initiative of FIBA's global Women in Basketball Strategy with a core focus on dismantling barriers and fostering a welcoming and empowering environment for girls and women in basketball.
Program Manager Ruby Malianina expressed the improvements she saw in the young girls over the four-week camp.
“The sessions focused on building real foundational skills which kept the participants interested and motivated,” she said. “Many who started with little to no basketball experience showed significant improvement in their skills, confidence, and understanding of the game,” she said.
The HWHR program is about more than basketball. It is the stepping stone for young girls to start believing in themselves off the court, too.
Mulianina recognised this in the young women at this event through the dance session with International Hip Hop choreographer Dinah Teofilo.
“It encouraged the girls to step out of their comfort zones, express themselves freely, and build confidence in their bodies and movements,” she said. “It complemented the basketball training perfectly by helping them develop not only physical coordination but also self-assurance, teamwork, and a sense of joy and pride in who they are.”
This program teaches these important life values through the fun of basketball and being part of a team. These young women leave this event with more confidence in themselves and their capabilities.
“Through workshops and discussions led by Brown Girl Woke, the girls learned to see their value beyond the game, recognise their voices as powerful tools for change, and build confidence in expressing themselves both on and off the court,” Mulianina said.
With Her World, Her Rules programs continuing in the Pacific, young women in basketball can grow and improve, both on and off the court. Their potential isn’t limited to basketball, and with the support of this program, they will become more confident and empowered individuals.
This program has been supported by PacificAus Sports through FIBA’s Women in Basketball Strategic initiative.
About PacificAus Sports
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high-performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, with funding split evenly between women and men. PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus
Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific.
For more information about PacificAus Sports and its initiatives, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.