July 3, 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Assistant women's basketball coach Brooke Carrigan-Jackson recently had a unique opportunity to travel with Athletes in Action to West Africa.

Jackson traveled with a Division I men's team, who completed training camp in Senegal against the Senegalese National Team and then traveled to Bamako, Mali, to compete in a four-country tournament.

Jackson and Stephanie Roe of Davidson were the only two women to accompany the team, and spent their time in Africa ministering to a variety of people. In Senegal, they visited the SEEDS basketball academy. The academy was started by a former NBA player from Senegal with the goal of linking athletics and education to give young men the opportunity to play in the United States or in Europe.

"We spent the afternoon working with the three girls at SEEDS Academy," explained Jackson. "They had previously dropped out of school, but were trying to get back on track. We only spent about three and a half hours with them, showing them drills and helping with some fundamentals, but when it was time to go, they didn't want us to leave!"

The group then traveled to Bamako, Mali, where Jackson and Roe had the opportunity to work with various club teams, a school's teams, and a military team.

"We did as much as we could with our men's team, but used every spare moment to work with a women's team," commented Jackson. "The basketball level is definitely a little lower, but the hunger to learn is greater."

By running practices and teaching teams, the group was able to show their true mission in coming to Africa: sharing the Christian message with the people they encountered, even though most of the women and coaches that the two worked with spoke little to no English.

Jackson's group was also able to participate in some humanitarian efforts while they were there, including visiting a school and orphanage and speaking at a university.

"Our team ended up winning all of their games versus the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali and Togo," said Jackson. "We had the opportunity after every game to share a little with each of the teams. All of the teams were open to hearing, and so many seeds were planted...It was the most overwhelming experience I've ever been a part of. God was alive and working in so many hearts."