Somali Girls Learn Basketball

http://vivaogaden.com/2010/02/somali-girls-learn-basketball/

The Brian Coyle Center in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is locked today. But there’s plenty of activity inside. About a dozen Somali high school and college women are playing basketball inside the gym. In this single-sex environment, they don’t need to wear scarves and long skirts for religious modesty, but some still do, just out of habit.

Fatimah Hussein, who works for the Confederation of Somali Community, is the force behind this unusual chance for Somali girls to have the court to themselves. “We started with three people the first day. Me, my sister and a friend of my sister,” said Hussein. Word spread, and new players join each week.

Read more at VivaOgaden Online.

Tags: basketball, women's sports
Topics: Community Health, Immigrants, Training, Youth