Iowa’s Caitlin Clark’s popularity extends far beyond the state of Iowa. The so-called ‘Caitlin Clark Effect’ can be felt across the county, even around the world.” At first we were curious, but as the game progressed, we fell in love with what we were seeing,β says Martha Niamal. The 16-year-old refugee from South Sudan now lives in Gulu, Uganda at ChildVoice’s Lukome Center. It’s where she and a group of other young women huddled inside a small thatched hut to watch the Iowa Hawkeyes play the Ohio Buckeyes on a screen powered by solar power and Wi-Fi earlier this month.” Seeing how happening was like magic in my eyes,” smiled Niamal. “I loved it so much, I was like, ‘Wow, I can try it.'” The group of nearly two dozen young women had never watched a basketball game in their lives, how rather they played the sport until the non-profit organization they receive education, skills training and therapy from introducing the sport to them.Richard Kyitarinyeba, head of office at ChildVoice Uganda, says sport acts as therapy for girls who are refugees and victims of war. “We believe in empowering young girls, girls who have faced terrible trauma,” Kyitarinyeba explains. “For girls, empowerment and belief in themselves that yes, I can make it regardless of the circumstances surrounding them. ChildVoice gave the girls black and yellow Caitlin Clark jerseys to wear while playing netball, Uganda’s version of basketball. . The organization’s founders, who are die-hard Iowa Hawkeye fans, say Clark is the perfect role model for the women they serve.” , former ChildVoice board member and Iowa alum. “They learn how to be the best version of themselves. of themselves and try to reinforce as many positive role models as we can.” at the center.”What the girls are doing and how they are impacting the society is very encouraging and motivating for girls like us,” says Babau Esther, another teenager living at the Lukome center. Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go : Apple | Google Play Get the latest headlines from KCCI
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark’s popularity extends far beyond the state of Iowa. The so-called “Caitlin Clark Effect” can be felt across the county, even around the world.
“We were curious at first, but as the game progressed, we fell in love with what we were seeing,” says Martha Nyamal. The 16-year-old refugee from South Sudan now lives in Gulu, Uganda at ChildVoice’s Lukome Center. There, she and a group of other young women huddled inside a small thatched hut to watch the Iowa Hawkeyes play the Ohio Buckeyes on a solar- and Wi-Fi-powered screen earlier this month.
βSeeing how things happened was like magic in my eyes,β Nyamal smiled. “I loved it so much I was like, ‘Wow, I can try that too.’
The group of nearly two dozen young women had never watched a basketball game in their lives, let alone played the sport until the nonprofit organization from which they receive education, skills training and therapy introduced them to the sport.
Richard Kyitarinyeba, Head of Office at ChildVoice Uganda says sport acts as therapy for girls who are refugees and victims of war.
“We believe in empowering young girls; girls who have faced terrible trauma,” explains Kyitarinyeba. “For the girls, empowerment and believing in themselves that yes, I can make it regardless of the circumstances around them.”
ChildVoice gave the girls black and yellow Caitlin Clark tops to wear while playing netball, Uganda’s version of basketball. The organization’s founders, who are avid Iowa Hawkeye fans, say Clark is the perfect role model for the women they serve.
“These girls have lived very difficult lives up until this point and really had no role models,” says Dr. Neil Mansager, former ChildVoice board member and Iowa alum. “They learn how to be the best version of themselves and we try to reinforce as many positive role models as we can.”
Clark’s eye-popping shots “from the logo” are one thing, but her ability to be a good teammate, her character and her heart left a lasting impression on the women who live downtown.
“What the girls are doing and how they are impacting the society is very encouraging and motivating for girls like us,” says Babau Esther, another teenager living at the Lukome centre.
Β» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: apple | Google Play
Get the latest headlines from KCCI