From Unemployed To Finding My Purpose

It was around 1 am in the morning and a ad appeared in front of me. I’d graduated less than a year ago, unemployed and really didn’t know where my life would take me. The Ad said ‘Volunteer abroad’?

I thought why not? And applied.?

Within a few months I was at the airport, on the way to Lindi, Tanzania. with a basketball in my hand. Little did I know that the inquiry I made about a court availability to play in during my down time would lead me to who I am today.?

I spent the first 7 weeks of the trip in a local school till mid afternoon building soft skills with teenagers then the rest of the afternoon shooting hoops. Within a few weeks the locals had heard about the girl wearing hijab that’s playing basketball and where asking questions about who I am and if I was also Tanzanian.

And then I was asked if I wanted to coach at the school I taught in during the day for the remaining 7 weeks, so I said yes.

I turned up to the first session with the teenage boys and girls towering over me. I introduced myself and let them know I’d be their coach for the next 7 weeks, and that we would be focusing on building their team skills during this time.

I asked them to collect each other from their dorms if they had to make sure they would all arrive on time. And that for every minute they arrived late they would be running. That the same way we will be held accountable as a team, We will celebrate small and big victories as a team.?The drills we worked on required the players to communicate well on offence and defence and make sure everyone on the team had possession of the ball at least once before a shot was taken.

It was the first time I’d used basketball as a tool to build something greater than good shots, layups and defence. I learned through coaching them the power of sport. We worked hard on the court and laughed in the process.??

I was the first female coach to coach them, the first wearing a hijab and while that didn’t seem like anything special to me, I later realised that my presence in a country that’s people look like me and can relate to my faith was far more powerful than I anticipated.?

On returning back to UK I decided to continue advocating for sport inclusivity. To continue encouraging those who look like me to pick up a basketball or a swimming suit etc and move their bodies. Because I realised I hadn’t seen the representation growing up and wanted to make sure that the next generation sees them self in every sport out there.?

That experience taught me that making money can provide you with a lot of opportunities but volunteering for good causes can change your perspective and give meaning and purpose to your life.?I went to Tanzania as Asma Elbadawi who didn't know where her journey would lead her, to Asma Elbadawi who found a voice and calling through the sport she loved to play.

Until the next news letter try to reflect on a time you volunteered and how that changed the course of your life in some way.

Best Wishes?Asma Elbadawi?