The camp is funded and mostly run by volunteers and employees of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association. AMYA is a nationwide Muslim youth group that works with boys and girls around the country.
Source/Credit: The Journal Times
By Jake Green | July 23, 2016
RACINE — The sounds of shoes squeaking as their users changed direction mixed with the shouts of coaches encouraging and directing equally vocal athletes during the Urban Youth Basketball Camp at the George Bray Neighborhood Center this week.
The green- and yellow-clad bodies of 20 children dashed down the gym floor, back and forth as they competed in two separate games. The 60 other children participating in the camp watched from the sidelines or were somewhere else in the center.
Among the yellow jerseys was Keinari Wilson, an eighth-grade student from Racine. The court floor shook as Wilson sprinted down the court, followed by the other team, and pulled up to attempt a 3-point shot.
“I wanted to play basketball instead of be outside,” said Wilson. Like most children at the camp, Wilson grew up in Racine and sports, like basketball and football, are a way for him to stay out of trouble.
Wilson, who lives with his mom and attended the Urban Youth Basketball Camp last year, said he came to this year’s camp because of the coaches.
Camp Director Usman Jamil said the coaches are what makes the camp fun. Jamil said the camp has eight volunteer coaches, each of whom leads a team of athletes. Jamil said the coaches aim to preach selflessness and teach life skills as well as basketball skills.
The camp is funded and mostly run by volunteers and employees of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association. AMYA is a nationwide Muslim youth group that works with boys and girls around the country. The group used a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise $1,260 to help fund the camp.
Jameel Ghuari said camps like Urban Youth Basketball Camp are helpful and needed for Racine-area children like Wilson.
“He’s at that age where he needs support,” said Ghuari. “Positive role models will make a difference.”
While the camp focuses on basketball, it also brings in mentors like Bilal A. Salaam. Salaam is 82 years old and lives in Philadelphia. Growing up, he said, he was a drinker, fighter and gang member in Philadelphia. Salaam and Ghuari speak to children about their experiences during short session during the camp day.
“I was one of these guys,” said Ghuari. The camp is ultimately all about the kids, and Ghuari hopes it will help them grow through example and mentorship.
“These kids, they need to have someone to mirror,” said Ghuari. “They have to see us putting a foot down and we’re going to help them no matter what.”
JAKE GREEN can be reached at jake.green@journaltimes.com
Read original post here: Camp at Bray Center keeps kids off the street
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