Lomé, Togo

Lomé, Togo is wonderful city. I traveled here to partner with Leading Youth Sports Development 'LYSD', a nonprofit organization designed to teach and promote basketball.  

Aside from providing a few basketball lessons, we conducted a two-day, 10 hour evaluation camp, for an NBA camp being held in Burkina Faso on June 10 & 11. The youth out here are BALLERS! They are eager to learn more about the game and to improve. I am so honored to be here working, sharing my knowledge for the game with these young athletes. They are incredibly smart, respectful, and welcoming. 

 I had no clear picture of what to expect upon arriving in Togo. Once here, I realized that my picture of Africa had been tainted, manipulated by what I had seen on American television. Africa is so much more than villages and conflicts shown in the news and on television  To marginalize this entire continent by referring to it as "third world" completely undermines the progress and resilience occurring here. 

Experiencing Africa is incredible. Watching the process of hard work being done here, each day in Lomé is inspirational. People here are constantly improing their lives and living conditions. I am thankful they invited me and allowed me to take a front seat to experience their world.