Kofi Inkoom
Giants of Africa, in collaboration with the Toronto Raptors, unveiled a new basketball court in Edmonton on Thursday, marking the organization’s inaugural court opening in Canada.
This newly established court can be found at Londonderry School and serves as a hub for development, offering a secure environment for young individuals to refine their abilities while instilling values such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience, as stated in an official press release.
Co-founded by Raptors president Masai Ujiri, Giants of Africa is dedicated to empowering youth through the medium of basketball.
Since its inception in 2003, the organization has been instrumental in launching 29 new courts across nine African nations, with the ambitious aim of constructing a total of 100 courts.
In a statement, Ujiri emphasized, “Our commitment has always been to harness the power of basketball to empower African youth and inspire positive change……By introducing our first Canadian court in Edmonton’s Londonderry neighbourhood, we aim to create a space that nurtures talent, leadership, well-being and unity, in a community that serves the youth of the African diaspora and beyond, right here in our own backyard.”
Expressing gratitude for the rejuvenated basketball court at Londonderry School, Darrel Robertson, the superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools, remarked,
“We are grateful for the revitalized basketball court at Londonderry School. Spaces, like basketball courts, are integral parts of a school community, where students gather to stay active, promote teamwork, improve skills and connect with one another.. This vibrant new court will make a difference in the lives of Londonderry School students for years to come.”