ISLAMABAD (Pakistan) - Sana Mahmud is an athlete, she captained the Pakistani National teams in both football and basketball, but she is also a sport for development advocate and volunteers within the Pakistan National Basketball Federation.

In 2018, Sana was chosen as the Pakistani delegate to take part in the first Asian Mini Basketball Convention in Sri Lanka, learning best practices on how to teach basketball to kids in a fun and playful way.

Sana thoroughly enjoyed the Convention. At the time she stated “I’m a firm believer of game based and play based learning and education and I think sports has a great impact on people’s lives and we should really use it as a tool for community development. That’s what Mini Basketball is all about and that’s what I believe the Foundation at FIBA is trying to do as well”

“In close coordination with the people from the Federation in Pakistan, with all these ideas and the new contacts that I’ve made, I hope to go back and organize similar events and start a Mini Basketball program as well as see if we can organize a Jamboree“.

She traveled back to Pakistan with the knowledge and motivation to start developing Mini Basketball as well as Basketball for Women. Sana is passionate about giving Women and children resources and opportunities to play.

The Pakistani National Federation fully supported her quest but wanted to see something concrete, so Sana applied for a grant from the U.S Embassy in Islamabad. As a Fulbright alumna, she had access to small grant opportunities offered by the Pakistan-U.S Alumni Network (PUAN).  She was awarded the grant and was ready to start her project ‘We Got Game: An Initiative for Women and Youth Basketball Development’.

Throughout June- August 2019 Sana ran 3 separate Basketball For Good programs for women and children.

The first event was a Girls Leadership and Basketball camp. The 3-day Basketball For Good event included 20 women and girls. It focused on building basketball fundamentals and leadership. They were taught the 5 core competencies: Know Yourself, Have Vision, Use Voice, Take Action and Keep Growing. Players also worked on developing their Vision boards and elevator pitches to set clear goals for their lives.

The second event was a 3x3 tournament for girls and women organized with the help of the Federal  Basketball Association. An opportunity to play for female basketball players as well as a place to test their skills for the participants of the leadership camp.

The tournament brought together 14 teams that were coached and trained by the 20 young female leaders of the Leadership Camp. By bringing beginners alongside more seasoned and experienced players, they were able to draw inspiration from one another. The event served as an opportunity for players to become part of a larger network of female basketball players in the capital.

A Mini Basketball Jamboree was the last event. Throughout 2 days, the children took part in sessions on basketball fundamentals and other team-building games. The Jamboree Festival brought together 30 to 40 children through basketball games and drills, enabling them to be young ambassadors who will play an instrumental part in creating awareness and building partnerships through sports in the future.

With 3 successful Basketball For Good events and great feedback, Sana would like to do more. “There are almost no opportunities for kids to play sport here and I would like to change that. I would love to develop a club or an academy to give these kids a platform to express themselves athletically and a place where they can learn”.