About

In 1999, Ursula Kirk, Diana Tyson’s daughter and a high school athlete, was looking for a summer immersion experience to improve her French, but she didn’t want to go to Canada or France. After researching several organizations, Nacel emerged which provided summer language and cultural opportunities throughout the world, including Africa. Ursula chose the Ivory Coast, and when she went, she took her basketball with her.

The family selected to host Ursula was changed at the last minute, and consequently, a new family was chosen rather haphazardly, resulting in an experience that was unanticipated. The local coordinator felt bad about what happened, and after discovering that she loved to play basketball, he invited her back to Ivory Coast the following summer to run a basketball clinic at the local girls’ secondary school. Diana met with a high school basketball coach at South Brunswick High School in New Jersey, and inquired about the feasibility of a high school student leading a camp. They determined that 3 student-athletes and an adult chaperon could successfully facilitate the camp with up to 20 participants.

Three young women did, in fact, lead that first trip to Ivory Coast, and Three Female Ballers was born.

Since 1999, F3B has conducted summer camps in the following countries:

1999 - Ivory Coast
2000 – South Africa & Kenya
2001 – South Africa & Zambia
2002 – Ghana & Nigeria
2003 – Ghana
2004 – Ethiopia & Uganda
2005 – Morocco & Niger
2006 – Botswana & Tanzania
2007 – Liberia & Benin
2008 – Rwanda & Kenya
2009 – Namibia
2010 – Mozambique

The Mission of F3B’s week scholar-athlete summer program is to increase communication, cooperation, cultural awareness and basketball skills for participating American and African teenage girls. All participants gain immeasurable insights and life skills that promote and support multiculturalism, as well as new friendships that can last a lifetime. Each program is approximately 60 hours in duration, with 40 hours of basketball instruction and 20 hours of professional development focused on leadership skills, cultural communication and HIV/AIDS awareness and wireless technology.

A highlight of the program in recent years came when Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the country’s first female president, addressed the F3B team during a closing ceremony recognizing the achievements of the Liberian girls who participated in the clinic in 2007.

“I am very, very pleased that you can do this to exchange views, to build networks of friendship and share talents and skills,” said President Johnson – Sirleaf to the American group. “We don’t even know how to express our appreciation.”

All Participants:

• Increase and enhance their cultural knowledge about the countries they visit
• Develop and practice leadership skills in a multicultural environment
• Learn about the role of international organizations such as USAID, UNDP, US Embassies, etc. and the career paths they offer
• Learn about multi-national companies and the career path of the expatriate
• Are exposed to multiple training models and practices as it relates to women’s basketball
• Heighten professional opportunities through corporate networking and sponsorship
• In addition to the above, the African participants will receive gift packages valued at $250.00 USD