Hello from Kalabash Academy! As normal daily operations continue to shift due to the Coronavirus, Kalabash Academy has focused on preparations for next school year and some big additions to our programs in the Gambia.
Here is an update on some exciting additions to our programs.
First U11 Girls Program Added
As Kalabash Academy enters its second year of operations, we are excited to announce the addition of an Under 11 Girls’ team. This will align with Kalabash Academy’s strive towards equal gender representation in sport, as we add two Under 11 teams (boys' and girls’). Each new Under 11 team will have fifteen student-athletes on it, and will join last year’s teams to bring our total number of student-athletes to around 60. Tryouts were scheduled for early June, but are postponed until mid-July to accommodate for COVID-19 restrictions in the Gambia.
Program Spotlight
Founder & President: Foday Kabba
What is the most important part of Kalabash Academy’s mission in your view?
The most important part of K.A.'s mission is the holistic way in which we are trying to transform lives. We are giving these kids multiple avenues with which to succeed in life. And along the way providing wellness concepts and jobs that will elevate the standard of living in these countries, thus reducing the effects of poverty.
How do you envision KA in ten years?
A success will be operating our own facility in all three countries, continuously producing top talents in both the classroom and on the pitch, creating jobs, and promoting a health and wellness culture.
Why football/soccer?
Football because it is a true working class or poor man’s sport. You don't need much to play and enjoy it...you can play with shoes or without, on different types of surfaces, with a ball that can be made out of anything, and it incorporates multiple of people. Football is engrained in the cultural fabric in West Africa and has become a national past time. Thus its importance to our programs...we use football as a vehicle for helping the population we have targeted.
New Leadership on the Board of Directors
Kalabash Academy is proud to welcome two new members to the Board of Directors: Grace Andrews and Malik Khan.
Grace was born in Ghana, grew up in Western Tennessee, and now is settled in Portland, Oregon. A lifelong entrepreneur, Grace holds a Masters in Public Administration with a focus on International Policy and Management, as well as Bachelor degrees in Sociology & Anthropology, and Political Science. After co-founding GraphAlchemist, a Portland Seed Fund and CivicX company from 2012-2015, Grace currently works as a Solutions Consultant at New Relic, Inc. and sits on the board of the Portland Workforce Alliance and is a member of iUrban STEM Industry Advisory Council.
Malik also comes to Kalabash with a background in entrepreneurship as the founder of PointClick Technologies, and an investor in a diverse range of start-up companies. Malik was born in the Gambia, came to the U.S. as a teenager with his family, and attended Georgia Institute of Technology. Malik strongly believes in giving back to the community and has created a scholarship fund for Senegambian high school students to attend college, and hosts an adult internship program at PointClick for the Senegambian community. He currently resides in North Carolina with his family.
How can you help?
Similar to most nonprofit organizations, Kalabash Academy faces financial challenges in these uncertain times. Any donation or support makes a difference in our mission to build and encourage growth through education, sports, and wellness.
Look for our next newsletter update coming in September! Until then, stay up to date on what’s happening by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.