Basketball and soccer program for at risk youth

My name is Ousmane Yannick Ba! I’m from Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. I’m a 6”11ft and I got a Bachelor degree in Exercise Sports Science. I was raised in the household with a lot of women, my family and I never knew my dad and I don’t know how he looks like until this day. But my family did a great job to raise, despite my dad not being there. Nearly 10 years ago, I moved in the U.S to pursue my dream, as a student, and athlete. My dream, it was to get a degree and going to play in the NBA. But all my dreams to play in the NBA was crashed with two devastated knees injuries, my first year in college, I tore my ACL and MCL, and in the second year, I tore my ACL in the other knee. So now I had to focus more on my education, and also at the sometime I was trying to come back to play for 2 more years, so I can graduate. Despite all the difficulties, I have to go through, not being able to see my family 11 years until this day, injuries, language barrier, not having a place to sleep, and living in shelter. But I have to persevere through those trials that God has me in. One thing that I know is that God, brought me here in U.S, and I know that He also has a better plan for my life. But for now, I’m just dedicated to serve and help kinds in our communities through sports, and show them the love of God, because I have a big heart for the little ones.

I’m raising this money, because I want to make a big difference through sports in the community I’m living in. I live in the one of the dangerous neighborhoods in the U.S which is ranked #6 here in Houston, Texas. Last year one of the nonprofit organizations  Eyes On Me. Inc, gave me an opportunity to create a free basketball camp for one month for the kids in our community. Most the kids, we serve they don’t have a father figure to raise them, so they are exposed to drug, sex trafficking, gun violence, gang banger etc. I want to help to those kids, because they remind me of myself, because I never had a father figure in my life. Last year, I trained 50 kids at my free basketball camp, feeding them, providing transportation for them, and I used a half basketball court with one basketball goal, because I could not afford a gym to work properly. Also, last year at the end of camp 5 kids gave their lives to Jesus-Christ. There is so much potential in those kids, and I want to see them become leaders, succeed in life, being the hope of the future generation, and become great students. Instead of being in the street, doing drugs, gangbanger, exposed to the sex trafficking etc. Sports are a great tool to help the kids in our communities to stay focus, and reach their potential. Your contribution can make a big impact in the lives of young kids who are fatherless like myself. I thank you in advance for support and may God bless you and keep you! 

Proverbs 19:17
"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."