Author: Mirin Fader
In light of Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month, the NBA has partnered with the Sister Schools Program to form The Darfur Dream Team, a coalition of professional basketball players and organizations dedicated to bridging connections between American and Darfuri students.
Amid the crisis in Darfur, which began in 2003, an estimated three million people have been displaced by violence. Education is a panacea to the problems many Darfuri kids face and is the primary motivation for the project.
The Sister Schools Program aims to link 250 American middle schools and high schools, as well as colleges and universities, with schools in twelve Darfuri refugee camps in eastern Chad. The American schools hold fundraisers to raise money for the Darfuri schools they’re linked with, and then use these funds to help build additional schools.
On their website the mission for this program states, “To provide a quality education to every refugee child from Darfur, and to develop personal connections between students from Darfur and the United States that promote mutual understanding.”
The Darfur Dream Team was inspired by former Orlando Magic superstar (and current Detroit Piston) Tracy McGrady’s journey to several Darfuri refugee camps. He went in 2007 with human rights activist John Prendergast, who recently spoke at Occidental.
McGrady talked with many refugees during his time in Chad, many of whom told McGrady, “We need education.” Thus, the Darfur Dream Team motto became “empowerment through education.”
While in Chad, McGrady felt inspired to do more for the Darfuri children he worked with. “After spending time with children in the refugee camps, I was humbled and compelled to share their stories with the world,” McGrady said in a press release from the Enough Project.
Other NBA players involved in the program include Darfur Dream Team co-captains Cleveland Cavaliers guard Baron Davis, Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher, Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng, Atlanta Hawks center Etan Thomas and Boston Celtics forward-center Jermaine O’Neal.
“I was blown away by what the Darfur Dream Team could accomplish,” Davis said in a Clippers press release. “We have a chance to dramatically improve the lives of young people from Darfur and help educate young people here in the United States about issues beyond our neighborhood.”
Goals of the program include raising funds to help build and rehabilitate schools, training teachers and students and providing necessary school supplies.
The project is striving to support 72 schools in the refugee camps and teach effective leadership among students, providing them with opportunities that enable them to dream of becoming professionals in the fields they desire.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the U.N. Refugee agency oversees the delivery of all aid and provides protection and assistance to refugees.
Another partner includes the Enough Project, an advocacy and policy organization that aims to prevent crimes against humanity through practical policies by encouraging and energizing voices among the most displaced and oppressed and to help them see that practical actions can create lasting change.
The Educational Partnership for Children of Conflict (EPCC) is another partner for the Sister Schools Program. Their mission is to fund education projects for children in conflict situations (refugee and emergency camps). They hope to build a network based on education as the foundation for a better future for all children.
Jewish World Watch (JWW), another partner, combats violations of human rights by mobilizing synagogues, communities and schools through advocacy and education.
The other three partners include: Facing History and Ourselves, which teaches youth that understanding the history of violence can help battle bigotry in order to create a more democratic society; i-ACT, which fights crimes against humanity by encouraging individuals to take responsibility in their communities and Campus Progress, which gives young journalists, artists and advocates an opportunity to spread their voice through communication in order to build a progressive movement.
For more information on how to get involved, visit www.darfurdreamteam.org
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