What’s the point of existence in a world that pours pain?
Killing, raping, slaughtering and hating
I sometimes wonder to myself how much I can take?
The heart weeps
Let me tell you, my story
Of what made me wait for the sunrise
I found my passion five years after being forced to flee from my home country
Being a stranger alone in this new world
I was blessed with a gift that made me feel out of this world
It made me dream
- Sabera
Sabera is an Afghan refugee who has just turned 17.
Her family fled Afghanistan and moved to Australia when she was 12 years old, in the hope of a peaceful life.
It is here she found that gift, that made her dream.
Soon after arriving in Sydney, Sabera went to an IEC (Intensive English Centre) where she was introduced to basketball.
"I used to play soccer in Afghanistan and never knew basketball existed," she said.
Sabera now dreams of playing basketball at the highest level possible but also has a passion for writing poetry and fashion design.
She is one of many teenagers reaping the benefits of a global basketball program spearheaded by NBA superstar Steph Curry and former Harlem Globetrotter, Tracy Williams.
First court of its kind outside of the US
The Curry Brand has collaborated with Charity Bounce, an Australian not-for-profit organisation, to build the first official Curry Brand basketball court outside of the United States, at the Arncliffe Youth Centre in southern Sydney.
The centre recently installed a new FIBA-approved floor surface to host elite basketball competitions and youth programs, focusing on Indigenous and culturally diverse youth, including newly arrived refugees.
Williams is the global ambassador for Charity Bounce.
"Basketball has been very good to me; it's taken me all over the world and provided a launch pad to do so many amazing things."
Williams now enjoys giving back to the community, using his own experiences with the Harlem Globetrotters to motivate, inspire and teach basketball skills, along with valuable life skills.
"You throw the ball and an assist is throwing the ball to another person and that person scores."
Changing the game for good
Under the Curry Brand's mission to 'change the game for good,' basketball courts across the world are being refurbished, to provide equal access and opportunity for disadvantaged youth through sports.
"I believe when kids or humans have positive options, most times they'll go in the direction of those options."
Alongside the slam dunks, dribbles, baseline passes and baskets, critical moves off the court are also being refined, over time.
These include resilience, motivation, empathy, and building confidence.
A guide to growing up
Sabera credits the program for not only making her "a better basketball player" but a happier person.
"It's taught me a lot of lessons," she said.
Sabera believes her teammates are also flourishing.
"I think it's helped them find their passion in life, to follow what they love," she says.
While Sabera describes Williams as a special person and the backbone of the program, she rates Curry and the late Kobe Bryant as her favourite players.
Williams says there is no bigger inspiration than the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter, who is officially the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history.
Williams believes Curry's ties with the initiative will have a lasting impact on these youngsters.
"Steph's not 7 foot tall like Kevin Durant or 6-foot-9 like LeBron James," he says.
"You're going to normally see somebody in your life that fits the physical dimensions of a Steph Curry and that's truly inspirational."
While Williams is a firm believer in utilising the power of sport, it's the legacy he's leaving in his life after basketball that's having a lasting impact.
"Everybody's career ends, so what's important is what we take away from that," he says.
