BUDHANILKANTHA (Nepal) – 13-year-old Sita was a shy girl. Hailing from a marginalized community in Nepal, she was initially unsure of herself and very reserved.
“I have no idea why I am here,” would have been the thought running through her head as the first-ever Lead Her Game program tipped off in Kathmandu.
“Will I be able to fit in?” Sita would have wondered, having never participated in organized sports before.
Basketball For Gender Equality
As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, it is important to acknowledge that many communities around the world continue to navigate long‑standing social norms that have shaped and limited women.
For girls like Sita, sports are often the last thing on their minds, that too only if they come from a relatively privileged background.
Even among the sports that are played in Nepal, basketball is much lower down on the priority list.
So when the Budhanilkantha Municipality Basketball Club launched the Lead Her Game project, with FIBA Foundation’s assistance, it was a leap of faith, to put it mildly.
Inspiring and Empowering the New Generation
As a former national team player and Lead Her Game’s Program Director, Shreya Khadka understands the transformative power of basketball in building confidence, resilience, and essential life skills, especially for girls who lack access to such opportunities.
According to Shreya, as per a 2019 UNESCO report, only 8% of girls in Nepal are being exposed to organized sports compared to 28% of boys, which underpins the criticality of FIBA’s Strategic Priority “Women in Basketball” to increase female players’ participation.
Therefore, she now uses her experience to inspire and lead by example, becoming a role model to girls like Sita and helping shape a new generation of empowered young athletes.
Budhanilkantha Club’s Mission
Founded as a non-profit, the mission of Budhanilkantha Basketball Club is to promote basketball at the community level, providing opportunities for youth and individuals to engage in sports, build teamwork, and improve physical and mental well-being.
Held from December 6, 2025, to January 14, 2026, the initiative successfully mentored 90 underprivileged girls, aged 8 to 14, besides indirectly benefiting 200 individuals, including parents, family members, coaches, teachers, and other community members.
Sita’s transformation
As Sita attended the basketball training at two locations, engaged in team-based drills, and received guidance from national-level coaches, she gradually became more expressive. The initial frowns would be replaced by ever-widening smiles. She made new friends, actively communicated the learnings of the day to her peers, and took initiative during drills. Her self-belief grew, and she expressed a strong interest in continuing basketball, demonstrating direct personal growth in confidence, social skills, and leadership.
Like Sita, the remaining 89 girls showed equally audacious advancements thanks to the guidance of Shreya.
“The Lead Her Game (LHG) project had a direct and tangible impact on both its beneficiaries (young girls) and the wider community by expanding access to sport, strengthening personal agency, and shifting attitudes toward girls’ participation in athletics,” Khadka explained, while acknowledging how she too gained courage and confidence to translate her ideas and vision into action.
Power of joining hands
Besides FIBA Foundation supplying 70 basketballs, the local government stepped in to provide logistical support, assist with volunteer mobilization, and cover essential costs such as coaches’ fees. Meanwhile, collaborations with schools significantly amplified the project’s objectives by increasing access, improving attendance and retention, and expanding the overall number of beneficiaries reached.
Even Nepal’s national women’s basketball team captain, Ms. Anusha Malla, joined as a brand ambassador.
Meanwhile, Sita’s transformation inspired her peers and encouraged parents and teachers to support girls’ participation in sports. Schools reported more engagement from other students, reflecting a broader cultural shift toward gender inclusion in physical activities.
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The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
The FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.
FIBA