Convention on status of refugees: UNHCR agency marks anniversary with youth basketball camp.

The agency held the weeklong camp at the headquarters of Cameroonian basketball franchise, ONYX Basketball Academy in Yaounde.

It featured some 15 young refugees from the Central African Republic, Chad, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries.

The participants were amongst others drilled on the basics of basketball and the values of the sport. 

The event concluded the gathering last Saturday August 1 with a friendly match.

The match pitted a team of young refugees living in Cameroon against a selection of trainees at ONYX Basketball Academy.

The friendly match was watched by officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR. This was under the leadership of the agency’s Associate Protection Officer in Yaounde, Samira Rahamatou Keita, and the management of ONYX Basketball Academy. 

It concluded with the award of trophies, medals and other prizes to the teams and players who distinguished themselves in the course of the camp and the highly-animated clash on Saturday. 

The anniversary of the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees is commemorated on July 28 annually to mark the signing of the convention on July 28, 1951. 

The convention is described by UNHCR as a foundational document that continues to guide international action in support of people forced to flee conflict, persecution, and violence as it provides the internationally-recognized definition of a refugee and outlines the legal protection, rights and assistance a refugee is entitled to receive. 

Speaking on Saturday at the end of the friendly match, the youngsters who featured in the camp expressed gratitude to UNHCR and its partners for taking the initiative to organize the friendly match. 

Fifteen-year-old Atou Emmanuel from the Central African Republic who moved to Cameroon in 2023 said the initiative provided him with an opportunity to pursue his life dream of becoming one of the finest professional basketball players of all times.

“I am thankful to everyone who gave me the opportunity to come play here.  I have always wanted to play for a professional club in Cameroon. Before today, I used to play alone at school because I am passionate about basketball. Ever since I was a kid, I loved watching the great players of the sport play, and I wanted to be like them one day. I want to play like Michael Jordan,” Atou said.

Committed, talented youngsters

Coach Sylvain Banai of ONYX Basketball Academy who coordinated the camp, described the youngsters who participated in the camp as young people who are committed and eager to learn.

The train said the coaching team trained the youngsters on core basketball fundamentals, including how to dribble, advance with the ball, run while controlling the ball, pass effectively, and execute basic techniques.

“We had a great workshop with the refugee youth. The participants were enthusiastic, fulfilled, and able to learn new skills and show a significant improvement. They were really eager to learn. If it were up to them, they would have kept going,” coach Banai said. 

Well-tailored initiative

Speaking at the end of the event, UNHCR Associate Protection Officer, Samira Keita hailed the successful organization of the weeklong event.

She expressed gratitude to ONYX Basketball Academy and the other stakeholders who contributed to the organization of the camp.

Samira Keita said the agency organized the activity in a bid to intentionally focus its commemorative activities on solidarity, sports, and community in line with the convention which the agency says embodies an essential promise to protection, dignity, and hope for refugees around the world.

“This was a great opportunity for them to have fun, and for us to see them and their parents come together for a nice friendly match with the local youth. These are young people who were forced to flee their home countries due to armed conflict or other forms of violence and have been welcomed and integrated by Cameroon. Today, they are living their lives, taking training courses, and studying,” she added.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3867 of Monday August 03, 2026