In the dusty courts of Bungoma County, where poverty casts long shadows and high rates of physical and sexual violence trap girls in cycles of early school dropout, teenage pregnancy, and shattered dreams, 14-year-old Nelima once felt invisible. Overstretched public services offered little help, and prevention efforts were scarce. But Imarisha Usawa saw her potential, and the power of basketball to rewrite her story.<br />It started with a dribble. Nelima joined our community basketball program, a tool for change that draws in girls like her alongside families, coaches, educators, elders, and local leaders. On the court, she learned more than crossovers and jump shots. Coaches taught her to recognize red flags of violence and speak up, while elders shared stories of norm change, shifting mindsets that once normalized inequality. Her mother attended family sessions, unlearning harmful beliefs and becoming her fiercest advocate. Educators linked the team to school retention support, breaking the dropout chain.<br />Basketball built Nelima's leadership. She captained her team, organized drills that doubled as confidence workshops, and led peer circles on body autonomy and goal-setting. Today, Nelima dreams of coaching the next generation, her grades soaring and her voice echoing in community forums.<br /><br />Imarisha Usawa's prevention focused approach works because it unites everyone: girls empowered on the court, families transformed at home, and leaders driving lasting change. But we need your help to strengthen our work by creating better safe spaces. Across all wards in Bungoma, we lack basketball courts that are our safe spaces. Please support our aspirations to provide safe spaces for girls to thrive.