Why RAUS Global sponsors a Swedish based GIRLS basketball team
Yes, I agree, on the surface it seems very off-brand. However, the back story is nothing but on-brand. Let me tell you why.
Petra — a force of nature
One of my dear friends from New York City is a long time US resident. Petra came to the US on a college scholarship to play basketball in the late nineties. After a successful career on the court, she moved to NYC and started a career in banking.
Long story short — about two years ago, Petra and her family decided to relocate to Sweden to be closer to family. They decided to live close to Malmo in southern Sweden. As the entry point from the European continent, Malmo is close to Copenhagen and offers an eclectic mix of Sweden and international cultures.
On location, Petra was approached by the “basketball network” in Sweden to think about starting to coach basketball. She could have chosen any posh town, but Petra decided to pick up coaching for a girls team in Rosengard.
Supporting integration and girls’ opportunities
For those of you who don’t know, Rosengård is hosting a large amount of immigrants and the majority of its residents have a foreign background. There is a lack of integration and the area suffers from a high level of recorded crimes in the area. Due to this, Rosengård has gained a reputation of being ‘one of the most dangerous districts in Sweden over the years.
The MALBAS Girls 11 basketball team
The team consists of 18 amazing girls from various origin and all with a different story. Most of them came to Sweden as young kids and all live in a community where integration and female opportunity is very limited. When Petra and I met over the holidays, I had the opportunity to attend one of the training sessions, and it made such an impression on me. Petra’s engagement and drive is an important factor for these girls to understand that they can do whatever they like in life. It was truly amazing. Petra even brings a speaker to play music and make it fun.
Low income, immigration communities suffer disproportionally from lack of funding
Petra explained to me that there aren’t enough basket balls for the girls to practice with, so they have to share. In this sport, it is key to know how to handle the ball and get very comfortable with it. She also explained that most parents can’t provide transportation to tournaments. Petra drives multiple rounds to pick up and drop off the kids so that they can participate in tournaments and get court time.
Her goal is to take the team to the big Gothenburg tournament in May this year, but have no funding. As most kids in Sweden who participate in sports, I have been to the Gothenburg tournaments several years when I was a kid. It was one of the highlights of the year for many of us.
This is why RAUS Global decided to sponsor the Malbas Rosengard girls 11 basketball team.
