PORT VILA, Vanuatu - The Her World Her Rules (HWHR) program is making significant strides in Vanuatu, with women’s participation and interest in basketball growing significantly this year.
With FIBA’s commitment to further developing the game for women, the HWHR program is revolutionizing the sport and creating new pathways in the Pacific country.
“We held two HWHR programs this year. The first had around 10-15 girls participating, and the second we welcomed over 40 girls,” shared Rickie Vora, the Vanuatu Basketball Federation Development Officer. “Women's Basketball is rapidly growing, and we hope to have more than 80 girls in our next clinic,” he added.
The VBF initiated the program with grassroots clinics in schools, focusing on teaching the basics of basketball and complementing these with 3x3 events to encourage women’s participation.
“Her World Her Rules created great momentum for us, and we are now trying to keep up with the demand, which has exceeded our expectations. We are looking for additional coaches to help us with the program,” Vora shared proudly.
He noted that previous programs struggled to attract women due to intimidation by the sport. However, the HWHR approach has successfully introduced basketball in a safe and fun environment.
“Basketball is quite popular among men, but we struggled in the past couple of years to introduce it to women. By focusing on fun and learning the basics, we provided a stress-free environment, and through word of mouth, the program kept growing,” he stated.
Christina Kasten exemplifies the new generation of Vanuatu women’s players. The 18-year-old transitioned to basketball from exclusively playing netball.
“I used to play netball a lot, but after trying the Her World Her Rules program, I enjoyed basketball and have never looked back. I love the dribbling aspect and skill of the sport and knowing it’s one of the most popular disciplines in the world made me want to improve my game,” Kasten shared.
Kasten’s interest translated into competitive play, and she was ultimately chosen to participate in the FIBA 3x3 High-Performance camp in Australia.
“I was so excited to be chosen for the High-Performance camp. It gave me an amazing experience of going to Australia and learning more about the game,” she shared. “I am committed to spreading the word and showing other girls that basketball can open up many opportunities for women in the sport.”
FIBA Executive Director Amanda Jenkins expressed her delight in the successful HWHR clinics in Vanuatu and hopes the program will continue to boost the sport’s popularity.
“We are extremely proud of the HWHR success in Vanuatu and believe the program will continue to develop the sport and provide new opportunities for women,” Jenkins stated. “The Vanuatu Basketball Federation (VBF) is doing a great job raising awareness to increase women’s participation in the country,” she added.
Vora believes this is just the beginning, and the program will continue to flourish in the coming years.
“Her World Her Rules is a great initiative. We are excited about the future of Vanuatu women’s basketball and introducing the next generation of players in our country,” he concluded.