About Africa Outreach USA
Africa Outreach USA is a non-profit 501(c)-3 volunteer organization committed to breaking the poverty cycle for disadvantaged children across Africa. Founded in 2008 by Gus & Madeline Chikamba, the organization deploys youth sports programs, (basketball, soccer and volleyball) as a game changer to empower under served children with faith based habit success patterns needed to overcome social barriers & excel in life.
The Vision/Mission
Our vision is to bring the dream of sports opportunities closer to reality for millions of under served children across Africa. This is supported by our mission to accelerate self-esteem development needed to drive gender balance, education advancement, healthy livelihoods, faith based lifestyles, and permanently disrupt the poverty cycle.
Our Core Values
At Africa Outreach USA, we are guided by six core values that shape our decision making process and the way we approach our work: Volunteerism - We are all volunteers and no one gets paid for the work we undertake. This is the founding philosophy of the organization. Creativity - We are motivated to deploy sustainable low tech innovative solutions to tackle challenges in places where no one else wants to go. Teamwork - We recognize that when put together, our individual talents contribute to a grand solution that drives humility & changes lives. Perseverance - We believe that scoring significant gains in uncharted territory requires vigilance and laser focus on the mission at hand. Respect - The diversified cultures we encounter require us to be culturally sensitive & inclusive in order to build buy in and maximize our impact. Integrity - We recognize the trust and faith vested in us by the donor community to manage their resources and we ensure that every gift reaches the beneficiaries on the ground in Africa.
What We Fight For
We believe in deploying the positive values associated with sport, as a global currency to: Keep children in school - We believe that the cornerstone to permanent poverty alleviation and long term prosperity for under privileged children is education. Promote gender balance - Closing the gender gap & increasing gains for young girls in participation & leadership roles is crucial in fostering socio-economic balance communities need to achieve generational prosperity & stability. Fuel healthier lifestyles - We believe that winning the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic begins with educating children about the dangers associated with the disease. Cultivate faith- Encouraging children to adopt biblical habit success is the first step towards purposeful life driven by spiritual confidence.- Basic sports resources We believe that positive values associated with sport can accelerate self-esteem development needed to help children overcome social challenges and break the poverty cycle.
The 80/20 Community Sweat Equity Model
This is a ground breaking burden sharing concept that mandates communities to make an 80 % non-monetary contribution towards the basketball court construction process, a sign of commitment & dedication. Community input comes in the form of digging trenches, ferrying bricks, laying the foundation, rubble filling and concrete pouring. We provide the remaining 20 % in the form of cement, paint, and backboards. The skin in the game approach allows communities to unlock possibilities & take ownership of the projects that help their children long term. Learn more...
The Dr. Jack Ramsay Basketball Initiative
The initiative supports setting up sustainable youth organized sports programs at resource poor schools across Africa. In partnership with game experts from the USA, we train local teachers as coaches & officials to administer organized youth leagues at community level. All year round coordinated collection drives by youth sports clubs, families, & organizations in the US helps harness & ship gently used basic gear to Africa for use in our programs. Learn more...
Our Story
Growing up in Zimbabwe, the dream of owning a soccer ball, let alone a basketball was just out of reach. We often improvised by making our own soccer balls out of plastic paper, played barefoot without any uniforms & still enjoyed a ball game. My first encounter with basketball came at the age of fourteen when I checked into boarding school. The game attributes had an incredible & positive impact in how I perceived life. Despite the lack of proper infrastructure & basic equipment, I developed a lifetime passion for the game that saved me from falling through the cracks in life. The game continues to shape my character in a unique capacity that allows me to serve and impact other people's lives. Learn more...
