Muslim girls take their first shot at basketball

What was expected to be a small taster session quickly became a vibrant, high-energy experience, with almost double the number of girls attending than originally anticipated, a clear sign of the appetite for inclusive opportunities where girls can feel comfortable giving sport a go.

The one-hour lunchtime session for the Year 7 and Year 8 students was delivered by coaches from Synergy Sports and focused on building confidence, teamwork and fundamental basketball skills. The girls threw themselves into the activities while discovering how much fun it can be to stay active together.

The session was organised by Tuia Waitākere (previously Sport Waitākere) as part of its wider focus on strengthening physical activity, social connection and wellbeing for tamariki and rangatahi across West Auckland, and to create pathways into sport that feel accessible, safe and enjoyable for girls.

Asian Outcomes Lead at Tuia Waitākere, Linda Cai, says the turnout and atmosphere on the day showed just how important culturally safe opportunities are for young people.

“When we create spaces where girls feel welcome, understood and supported, they respond with confidence and enthusiasm. This session showed how powerful a positive first experience can be – not just for physical activity, but for connection and wellbeing,” she says.

A short post-session survey provided valuable insight into how the girls benefitted from the day and confirmed the strong demand for opportunities designed specifically for Muslim girls. Enjoyment levels were high, with nearly 50% of participants citing their top highlight as ‘having fun and staying active’.  For improvements, 40% said they would love more game time.  Future interest was strong, with 63% saying yes to joining more sessions. 

“These insights reinforce the importance of creating culturally responsive, low-pressure opportunities where girls can try new activities, build confidence and simply enjoy moving together. The enthusiasm shown by the Iqra girls highlights just how meaningful these experiences can be. When young people feel welcomed and supported, they show up, and they thrive,” concludes Linda.

Tuia Waitākere looks forward to building on this momentum and continuing to work alongside Iqra School and community partners to create equitable and enjoyable pathways into sport for girls across West Auckland.