Be Own Sports Foundation

Empowering African youth through sports.

Aly Samabaly was born into poverty in the Congo DRC. He lost his parents before the age of 9 and then continued to face economic hardship while living with relatives in France. His love of sports, his natural abilities and his work ethic led to an opportunity to play high school and college basketball in the United States. Today, he is the father of three and a successful entrepreneur. Aly beat the odds. It is out of the adversity he experienced from early in life that he became so passionate about giving young people throughout the world access to the resources, guidance, knowledge, and encouragement he never had. In 2009, Aly founded the Be Own Sports Foundation with a MISSION to improve lifelong outcomes for youth living in developing countries around the world by providing the challenges and support they need to develop to their fullest potential, using sports as the primary catalyst.

The Be Own Sports Foundation is dedicated to engaging these youth through:

• Youth centers that include sports facilities, computer labs, libraries and spaces for a wide range of educational and enrichment programming;

• Sports, education, and enrichment programming that includes and challenges youth of all abilities and draws on the skills of the community;

• A pathway from meaningful engagement to leadership and productive adulthood and

• Partnerships that increase the range of opportunities offered to young people. 

Our goals include:

• Increasing educational attainment for all youth;

• Improving health and wellbeing;

• Increasing resiliency, trust and hope;

• Building relationships among all youth; and

• Offering opportunities for leadership.

With your help, by 2020 more than 50,000 African youth will complete their education, know how they will continue to contribute to their families and communities, and have the strength of character to attain their goals. Please consider making a gift today.