62,118+
Program Participations
18,118 in Mind Yourself + 44,000+ in Basketball Experience (participations, not unique students)
Developing African Leaders Through Movement
Dream Sports Africa equips young people in Nigeria and Ghana with sports, wellbeing, and leadership skills.
Our Impact
Dream Sports Africa creates lasting change across Nigeria and Ghana through sports, yoga, and leadership programs.
10,000+
Supplies Distributed
Sports, fitness & athletic supplies provided
50/50
Gender Parity
Maintained across all youth cohorts
~25
Paid Basketball Coaches
Over the Basketball Experience program lifetime
Our Programs by the Numbers
Real, measured results from our two flagship programs across Nigeria.
62,118+
program participations across Mind Yourself (18,118) and Basketball Experience (44,000+) — participations, not unique students
Mind Yourself (MY)
Mental wellbeing through mindful movement
18,118
Students reached & educated
20
Schools
70
Youth mental health leaders trained
2023–2025
Two-year program
Basketball Experience (BE)
Leadership & inclusion through basketball
44,000+
Students reached
50
Schools reached
336
Basketball sessions held
47%
Girls participation
The 3 Pillars of Wellbeing
The Dombinyoga Framework integrates three essential dimensions of human development
Physical Wellbeing
Tracked basketball sessions, Yoga Sculpt, and structured fitness programs that build strength and endurance.
Mental Wellbeing
Mind Yourself peer-led networks, daily mindfulness practices, and resilience logs for emotional balance.
Intellectual Wellbeing
Social-emotional learning (SEL), habit building, and continuous leadership education for personal growth.
Mind Yourself: Movement Opens a Conversation
In Nigeria, stigma can make conversations about mental wellbeing difficult. Mind Yourself used yoga and mindful movement as welcoming ways to begin those conversations. Student Mental Health Captains and Leaders at the University of Abuja and the University of Lagos brought peer-led wellbeing activities to their campuses and nearby school communities.
Move Together
Youth-led yoga and mindful movement made room for connection and self-care.
Talk Openly
Peer conversations and school outreach made mental wellbeing easier to discuss in culturally relevant ways.
Grow as Leaders
University students facilitated sessions and developed practical leadership and life skills.
What We Are Learning
Surveys of Mental Health Leaders at the start and end of the program showed more describing the activities as relevant, and reporting greater knowledge, life skills and regular exercise.
Program felt relevant to daily life
Before
40.8%
After
80.5%
Confidence in mental wellbeing knowledge
Before
28.9%
After
87.8%
Confidence in resilience knowledge
Before
40.9%
After
82.9%
Confidence in life skills
Before
44.9%
After
83%
Exercising at least three times a week
Before
18.4%
After
39%
Mind Yourself final progress report, March 2025. Baseline n=49 and endline n=41 Mental Health Leaders; separate survey samples, not a matched follow-up.
Our Impact Model
More Than Participation
Dream Sports Africa doesn't just count people in programs. We build trajectories — from a young person's first engagement all the way to leadership and economic mobility.
STEP 1
Engagement
A young person joins a program.
STEP 2
Education
They build practical skills and knowledge.
STEP 3
Empowerment
They take on responsibility and leadership.
STEP 4
Employment
They move into paid work and economic mobility.
Jessica Ohaka
From Teenage Volunteer to Senior Leader
From a teenage unpaid volunteer to senior leadership — and on to international professional opportunities.
Read Jessica Ohaka's story
Castel Dombin
From Participant to Finance & Administration Manager
From a university participant and Mental Health Captain to Finance & Administration Manager.
Read Castel Dombin's story
Our Mission
is to leverage the power of sports and African pride to develop leadership, mental wellbeing, physical fitness, and organizational skills in African youth
Learn more about what we do →Highlights
Supporting DC Dynamics in Accra
2026
In 2026, Dream Sports Africa supplied 210 sports and program items to DC Dynamics in Accra, including basketballs, bibs, whistles, apparel, a scoreboard, a bag and a laptop. After reconnecting with Feranmi Olunloyo, we began exploring ways to collaborate on youth basketball and wellbeing activities. Feranmi shared that the basketballs were already useful as DC Dynamics prepared for its summer camp. We look forward to learning from each other as the relationship develops.
Read MoreEquipment donations · 2026
More Equipment Donations in 2026
2026
In 2026, Dream Sports Africa donated about 500 additional sports and program items to four grassroots basketball development organizations. We will share the organizations' names and more detail after confirming them with the teams.
Read More
Archive group yoga photoBoma Coffee Sip and Ground: Mind Yourself Leaders Gather
May 2026
In May 2026, approximately 20 Mind Yourself leaders joined the Boma Coffee Sip and Ground Experience for yoga, infused coffee brewing and tasting, and time to connect. The event brought mindful movement and community together. Across 2026, Dream Sports Africa has held more than 15 online yoga classes and 10 in-person yoga sessions, including community yoga for girls.
Read MoreOnline conversation · April 2026
Connecting with Sigma Rho Mu at James Madison University
April 29, 2026
In April 2026, Dream Sports Africa met online with members of Sigma Rho Mu at James Madison University. We heard how Dr. Anaza's legacy shaped their support and shared the stories behind our youth sport and wellbeing programs. We are grateful to Emily Zacharias, Ethan DuFresne and their colleagues for the conversation and their ongoing interest in the young leaders we serve.
Read More"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair."Nelson Mandela
In Their Words
Voices From Our Community
"I came to Dream Sports Africa as a university participant and a Mental Health Captain. Here I built real skills in finance, administration and wellbeing — and grew into a manager. DSA didn't just let me take part; it gave me a path to a career."
Castel Dombin
Finance & Administration Manager, Dream Sports Africa
"I started as a teenage volunteer. The trust, mentorship and responsibility I was given shaped who I became and opened doors I never imagined. Dream Sports Africa changed the trajectory of my life."
Jessica Ohaka
Dream Sports Africa Alumna & Leader
Our Partners
We are proud to work with partners who promote sports and equality worldwide
French Development Bank
Grand Challenges Canada
Ingress Health Partners
Learning Impact
How far? I'm Castel, DSA's Finance and Admin Manager.
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