The Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG), in partnership with FIBA Oceania, has celebrated the success of its pilot WiLEAD program in the Hela Province, which drew 93 participants aged 10 to 25 from five council wards in the Lower Waghi LLG, Margarima District.
The initiative, delivered under Hoops for Hope by emerging leader Hannah Kuwimb, is part of the broader WiLEAD (Women in Leadership) program designed to empower women and youth through basketball.
Kuwimb described the program as a positive transformative experience for the youths in the community as it teaches them in making life choices and shows them the pathways in basketball.
“I strongly recommend this program to be delivered annually until our communities are fully confident in making positive life choices, understand the rules and pathways in basketball, and develop solid skill sets that can help them grow both on and off the court. With ongoing support, we can build a generation of confident, informed, and empowered young leaders.”
Participants showed discipline by adhering to program rules, including bans on bush knives, smoking, and sales within the program area.
Their eagerness to learn and punctuality impressed Kuwimb the organizing team.
“I was quite impressed to see the hunger and interest each individual showed. Their commitment in arriving early and their eagerness to learn gave me confidence that there is a 100% possibility of change in this part of the community,” Kuwimb added.
Although more young people wanted to join, limited space capped participation at 93 with the largest age group represented was 15 to 19 years, considered a critical stage for shaping positive change.
The FIBA WiLEAD Program is a women’s leadership initiative across Oceania, designed to identify and support emerging female leaders in basketball.
The programs goal is to teach Skill Development by Building leadership, communication, and sports administration competencies that includes Confidence Building by Empowering women to take on higher leadership roles in Networking and Visibility.
This program elevates women’s roles in governance, coaching, officiating, and advocacy like BFPNG Program Quality Lead Delisha Koime who described the pilot as “one of the first steps in the right direction” for women’s leadership in PNG basketball.
WiLEAD is more than a training program-it is a strategic advocacy tool for gender equality in sport. It aligns with broader initiatives such as PacificAus Sports, which support regional collaboration and capacity-building.
The success of the Highlands pilot signals a growing movement to empower youth and women through basketball, positioning Papua New Guinea as a leader in inclusive sport development across Oceania.
