Eugenio Amézquita/Jorge Barrera
Deporte Global/ Deporte Bajío/Metro News
Translation: Metro News Mx
-Jen trains more than 70 children of various nationalities in the Kakuma camp, Kenya, using basketball as a sanctuary of peace.
-The Kuza Kid project combats drug use and teenage pregnancies through daily sports discipline in the area.
-Jorge Barrera conducts an in-depth interview that highlights the extreme hardships of refugee athletes to the world.
-Without official support from the Kenyan federation due to their legal status, refugees rely on their own funds to compete.
-Coach Jen finances the basketballs out of his own pocket, prioritizing training over his basic personal needs.
-Most boys and girls practice barefoot on cement courts due to the impossibility of affording specialized footwear.
-The high cost of transportation and lodging in Nairobi prevents talented young people from participating in the country's national league.
-The program demands academic excellence: if players' school grades drop, they are prohibited from training on the court.
-Jen acts as a mentor and father figure, visiting his players' homes to ensure their well-being and holistic discipline.
-Jorge Barrera's platform stands out for giving a voice to those who, from absolute precariousness, keep the dream of becoming legends alive.
Humanitarian Mission on the Kenyan Hardwood
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique leads a social transformation project in the Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. He serves children and youth between the ages of 4 and 17 from nations in conflict such as South Sudan, Congo, Somalia, and Ethiopia, using sports to steer them away from drugs and violence.
Thanks to the journalistic work of Jorge Barrera, whose space has established itself as a vital bridge for visualizing sports realities in vulnerable contexts, we now know the impact of Kuza Kid. This international-reaching interview not only exposes material deficiencies but also the resilience of a leader who, without a salary or sufficient equipment, forges future champions.
In the heart of the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, basketball has ceased to be a simple game and has become a survival tool. Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique, a Congolese refugee living in Kenya, heads the Kuza Kid initiative, a project that serves children and adolescents displaced by war in countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia. In an environment where options are often limited to marginalization or vice, Jen has managed to establish a sports structure that teaches not only shooting techniques but fundamental human values.
The visibility work carried out by interviewer Jorge Barrera is essential to understanding this reality. Through his platform, Barrera manages to connect the periphery of world sports with the center of the conversation, exposing how the lack of basic resources—such as 15-dollar basketballs or a pair of sneakers—are the only walls separating these young people from professionalism. The reach of Barrera’s interview allows Jen’s testimony to transcend African borders, showing the most human and resilient face of global basketball.
Despite not having a paid job, Jen dedicates his life to managing training sessions for groups of up to 70 people. Conditions are precarious: many play barefoot, and access to official competitions in Nairobi is an unreachable luxury due to transportation costs. However, discipline is ironclad; the coach works closely with parents to ensure that academic performance is as high as athletic performance. This editorial effort by Jorge Barrera highlights that, even in the most forgotten corners of the Earth, sport remains the universal language of peace and hope.
Transcript of the interview with Coach Jen Pacifique, by Jorge Barrera, for Global Sport-Deporte Bajío
Jorge Barrera:
Welcome to this program.
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Thank you very much for contacting me and for giving me feedback on your project. I am very happy because when you do what you like in life, you can do it better. That is why what I am doing in the refugee camp in Kenya is what I like to do anywhere. If I find a basketball court, I can dedicate two or three minutes to the kids I find there. I don't know how to start.
Jorge Barrera:
Coach, tell us how you started with basketball, how was your first contact.
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
I started playing basketball in Congo when I was in fifth grade of primary school. I continued playing through high school, still in Congo. I came here in December 2021 and kept playing because I found a coach. Anywhere I go, if I find a court, I start playing. That’s why, when I arrived in 2021, I started immediately; I got to know the court, other players of different nationalities, and I found basketballs there.
From 2021 until now, I continue on this journey teaching boys and girls in the Kakuma refugee camp. Last week I had the opportunity to go to another county in Kenya for a day and I was able to teach the kids because a group organized a month-long basketball camp for the school holidays. I took a day to train boys and girls. They practice in the morning, afternoon, and evening, divided by age. I was there all day teaching them little things from what I know. A month ago I also attended coaching training and obtained a certificate.
Jorge Barrera:
How many categories do you have for the kids?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
We take children from ages 4 to 17. We divide them into categories: 4 to 6 years old have their own team, 7 to 12 have theirs, 13 to 15 another, and 16 to 17 as well. Sometimes we organize league games and play against others from different areas.
Jorge Barrera:
What are the main difficulties you have with the children and given the conditions of the country for practicing basketball?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Thank you for that question because there are many problems. We are in a refugee camp where there are people from South Sudan, Congo, Uganda, Somalia, and Ethiopia who fled conflicts in their countries. The first major challenge is the basketballs. I use my own money to buy them. Another challenge is the number of children; during these holidays we have more than 70 on a single court. In another, we can have 50. The balls we have are not enough.
Basketball requires balls so that one group can practice layups, another dribbling, and another shooting. We don't have materials like bibs or cones to help the children get stronger. Currently, I don't have a job, so we keep struggling to get materials. If a child asks their father for money for a basketball, which costs about 15 dollars, the father asks if they want the money for the ball or for food. Another problem is that many play without shoes.
In the videos I post, you can see that many boys and girls play barefoot. It’s a challenge because no one should play basketball without shoes, but we have no other way, so we allow them to practice like that. Sometimes, if someone gives me three pairs of shoes, I distribute them among the children. There is also the issue of transportation. Sometimes we organize games in other counties and they are far away; we need transportation to take the kids and return safely. Those are the biggest problems we face.
Jorge Barrera:
You have many difficulties with resources, shoes, balls, and transport, and you have many players, between 50 and 70, right?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Yes, that’s right.
Jorge Barrera:
Tell us about your tournaments and competitions, what are they like?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Sometimes we organize local competitions. On my part, as an organizer, I can gather about 55 dollars and divide them: I give about 22 dollars to first place and about 15 to second. I give the children money to encourage them, so they can take something home and buy food or small things. In every school holiday, we organize a competition to see their performance, because they can't just practice all the time without playing matches; they need to compare themselves with others and correct things.
Jorge Barrera:
Going back to your time as a player, how did you start playing?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
I started in sixth grade. I can say I’ve been doing this for over 15 or 17 years between primary and high school.
Jorge Barrera:
Did you have a coach or did you learn on your own?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
I had several coaches of different nationalities: South Sudanese, Kenyan, and Congolese. They guided me on what I should do.
Jorge Barrera:
Did you play at a high or professional level?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
When I was in Congo, my team was in local competitions in our county. The team that won had the opportunity to go to the national competition, but we didn't make it. Here in Kenya we have players, but the difficulty is participating in the national league in Nairobi due to lack of funds. Going to Nairobi requires lodging and transportation, and that is the reason why my team cannot go.
Jorge Barrera:
Regarding your current situation, are there competitions you have to travel to with the kids?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
At the beginning of the year, we had a small opportunity in a competition that wasn't too far away. We did a selection of the best players from the entire refugee camp, participated for three days, and it was very good; we came in second place.
Jorge Barrera:
Is there a basketball association in your locality in Kenya?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
In Kenya, there is the national basketball federation, but they mainly deal with Kenyan citizens. We, as refugees, are not exactly part of the federation; we are outside. But if we found the funds for lodging and documents, we could see how to arrange with them to be part of the federation and participate in any league.
Jorge Barrera:
Do you receive any kind of support or do you face negative attitudes like racism in Kenya?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Normally they say that refugees are not Kenyans, that there is a difference. Often they say that all refugees should return to their countries, but we cannot because the conflicts continue. This is the place where we find peace to continue our lives. What they ask for is money; if you have money to pay the affiliation and the documents, you could participate in the national league.
Jorge Barrera:
Most of your players are in the same situation as you, right?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Yes, I am a refugee from Congo and the players are from South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, or Uganda. We all share the same situation.
Jorge Barrera:
How do you receive training or teaching from other coaches?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
The last training we participated in a month ago was thanks to another refugee organization from Uganda. They have sponsors in the United States who send them everything and they sent them to the refugee camp to train the coaches.
Jorge Barrera:
Do you have internet contact with those people who came to train you?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Yes, with those who came to give us the training.
Jorge Barrera:
Could you explain the organization of the competitions or tournaments? How many groups are there and how are they organized?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
The organization is called Kuza Kid. In English, it means something like "growing kids." We started in October 2022. The main objective after our research was to see the challenges facing boys and girls. After school in the refugee camp, many don't have a good place to go. The places they go are bad because they use drugs or the girls get pregnant at an early age. As the founder, I decided to organize something to keep the kids busy after school and during holidays.
They leave school at 3:30 p.m., go home to change their uniforms, and come to the court for two hours. That way they don't have the chance to go to bad places. Kuza Kid is there to support them, mentor them about the dangers of drugs and gender-based violence, and teach them how to combine school with basketball. Before every practice, we organize meetings to advise them.
We want them to grow up with values, to know God, and to leave drugs, because a child who uses drugs has no energy on the court, they become lazy. We train them for about three months and then we organize a small tournament to see their level and make corrections. We look for small amounts of money to reward them and help their families.
Jorge Barrera:
Is there a coach or player you admire?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Yes, I admire a coach named Moses from Kenya. He came to the last training I mentioned. The guys who came from Uganda brought two coaches from Kenya to train us. During that week, Moses shared his experience and taught us a lot. Until now, he sometimes calls me to participate in practices and guides me. I also admire another one named Denis, a very simple Kenyan coach who sometimes comes to teach us the rules and the evolution of basketball.
Jorge Barrera:
Have you ever been to an NBA event in Africa?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
No, I know those programs that travel through Africa exist, but I haven't had the opportunity. NBA Africa is here in Kenya, but sometimes I write them emails and don't get a response or results.
Jorge Barrera:
What is the highest level your team can play, only local tournaments or can they access nationals?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Our kids could access the national tournament because they already have the skills, know the rules, and everything necessary. The only challenge is funding. Transport to Nairobi costs about 32 dollars per person one way; adding the return, food, and lodging, it’s too much. That’s why we sometimes lose the opportunity to participate in the national competition.
Jorge Barrera:
You look young, are you currently playing basketball?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Yes, I play. On the court, we divide the hours: the boys and girls have three days and my team has another three days. When it's my turn to train the kids I go, and when it's my team's practice, I'm also there to play.
Jorge Barrera:
What are the best memories you have of your team?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
I have many. First, as a coach, you always want your players to understand what you teach and to do it exactly right. I like my team because they do what I tell them and they perform very well in games. At the beginning of this 2023, in the competition I mentioned, they played so well that everyone watching said those kids were very good. That is a great memory.
Jorge Barrera:
What kind of problems do you have with the parents of these kids?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
We don't have many problems because we collaborate with them. We organize meetings every three months to talk about the kids' progress. They tell us how they behave at home. If they do something wrong at home, they tell us and I, as the coach, talk to the child. I give them a punishment on the court, like doing 200 push-ups. When we punish them like that, they don't repeat the mistake at home. We have a good relationship; sometimes parents help by buying juice or biscuits for the kids and they come to watch the games. There are no problems.
Jorge Barrera:
I was asking because I recently spoke with a boy from Georgia and he told me that in his country parents sometimes make their children quit sports if they aren't good enough. In Mexico, people are very passionate or intense and sometimes say things to coaches or referees that they shouldn't.
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
For us, another thing is to empower the parents because most of the kids are students. I tell them that if their school performance drops, they cannot stay on the team. They must bring their report cards. If they have good results, the parents support them in continuing basketball because they show they can handle both. That’s why we don’t have challenges with the parents.
Jorge Barrera:
How long is the local season?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
As I told you, in the refugee camp there is no organization that runs a real league. What we do are three-day tournaments with about six teams. In Nairobi they do normal leagues lasting months, but in our area no one focuses on basketball for refugees or supports us in organizing something for six months. That’s why we try to organize small things until we can settle and get money to start organizing something big.
Jorge Barrera:
Do you have a teaching plan for the kids on fundamentals like ball handling, footwork, and passing?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Yes, we have a plan every day. We cannot go to the court without a plan. We have a scheduled routine. Every day new players arrive and we cannot mix them with the older players. We separate the new ones so they start with basic dribbling. Those who have already finished that step go to another level.
We have defined steps: today one group practices layups and their different forms, and we teach others how to shoot—jump shots or free throws. We teach the new kids ball control for a few days before moving to layups. Everything is planned.
Jorge Barrera:
How do you motivate kids who are lazy or have a bad attitude?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
We treat them as brothers and sisters, not just as players. Sometimes we joke, but before practice, we discuss community issues. Sometimes I invite them to my house to prepare food and eat together, or I go visit them at their homes. We create a friendship between coaches and players. If someone is your friend, they will tell you everything they have in their heart and you will know how to help them. We motivate them; sometimes if a child arrives hungry and I have some money, I take them to buy some food so they can train.
Jorge Barrera:
What are the lessons learned—things you always do and things you never do?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
We always watch YouTube videos to learn. We might spend two weeks or a month teaching something and then go back to YouTube to see the next step. After teaching them something that helps them in the game, we organize matches to see the mistakes made. After seeing the errors, we return to practice to correct them. That is how we work.
Jorge Barrera:
To get to know you, what are your hobbies—what do you like and dislike?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
My hobbies are watching movies, reading books, and listening to music. I also like visiting different areas to see how things are going. But my priorities are movies, books, and music.
Jorge Barrera:
What dishes do you like to eat?
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
For lunch, I like to eat ugali because it’s something that makes you feel strong during the day. In the evening I might eat chapati or rice, which are lighter foods. But my favorite food is ugali.
Jorge Barrera:
Finally, a message for the people watching this video.
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Let the people watching this video understand our discussion about basketball. To those who love this sport: don't give up, keep teaching. Sport is peace and basketball unites many tribes and people. If you have the possibility to help us or others teaching kids in their communities, do it. You can support with balls or materials.
We have many children with dreams; they want to be like Jordan. In a few years, the current legends will be replaced by these young people we are training now, but they cannot continue without materials like balls, shoes, or cones. If you have a good heart, help the children and help basketball, because basketball is love and peace. Thank you.
Jorge Barrera:
Coach, we appreciate the time you gave us and the opportunity to talk. What you told us about your experience, your kids, and your conditions is very interesting. I am very grateful, as is the team at Básquetbol Global. We will be in touch and maybe talk again later.
Coach Jen Buhendwa Pacifique:
Thank you.
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