Fijian rising star Makaefa Savu is embarking on an inspiring journey as one of the first international participants in the She Hoops Leadership and Confidence Program, initiated by Basketball Australia.
The scholarship initiative, and partnership between FIBA in Oceania, and She Hoops, is offering Savu a unique chance to cultivate her passion and pave the way for others in her homeland.
Savu’s story is one of dedication.
Basketball is her love, but in Fiji, chances for young women to pursue the sport are scarce. This is what makes her one of the first international participants in the She Hoops program, a scholarship initiative designed to empower women in basketball, so significant.
“I want to teach and lead other girls in Fiji to try basketball and get them interested in the sport,” Savu explains. Her motivation is clear: to use the skills and knowledge she gains to create a pathway for other young Fijian women to follow.
The She Hoops program began with online learning sessions, with Savu gaining valuable insights into self-control during games and discovering new ways to support her teammates - these lessons are building a strong foundation for her journey.
The next exciting step with the program is a trip to Canberra in June for a three-day camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). This is a golden opportunity for Savu, where she will complete an introductory officiating course and earn her Community Coaching Accreditation.
But beyond the qualifications, it's the chance to connect with others that truly excites her. “I’m most excited to meet the other overseas participant from Palau,” she says, referring to Kierra Kedengek Ketenbengage. The chance to learn in person, to share experiences, and to build networks with fellow ballers is invaluable.
The opportunity is also supported by the partnership between PacificAus Sports and FIBA in Oceania aiming to create more pathways for women's basketball, making Savu's She Hoops opportunity even more significant.
“These collaborations allow the basketball community to align for meaningful outcomes across the region,” FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins said. “As one of our inaugural participants, Makaefa (Savu), will be a great example of how we can further empower women in basketball to develop on, and off the court.”
About PacificAus Sports
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, with funding split evenly between women and men. PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’sTeam Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific. For more information about PacificAus Sports and its initiatives, visitwww.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports onFacebook.
