Empowering Refugee Communities through Human-Centered Design: The Dzaleka Refugee Camp Basketball Court Initiative

Situation

Between 2018 and 2020, CorpsAfrica sought to enhance the capacity of its Volunteers across Malawi, Senegal, Morocco, and Rwanda by integrating HCD and Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) methodologies into their community engagement strategies. A notable outcome of this initiative was the development of a modern basketball court at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. This project exemplifies the impact of HCD in refugee settings.

Assignment

As an Expert Trainer in HCD and ABCD, my role encompassed:​-Designing and delivering comprehensive training programs to equip CorpsAfrica Volunteers with HCD and ABCD competencies.​-Mentoring local Volunteers, including exchange Volunteer from Senegal, Morocco and Rwanda to apply these methodologies effectively within their respective communities.​-Facilitating the development of innovative, community-driven projects that address specific needs identified through immersive engagement and empathy-building exercises.​- HCD coach for all the volunteers in the region 2018-2020.

Approach

Capacity Building: Conducted intensive training sessions focusing on HCD principles, empathy exercises and asset mapping to enable Volunteers to identify and leverage community strengths.

Mentorship and Support: Provided ongoing technical support and coaching to Volunteers, guiding them in applying HCD methodologies to engage deeply with community members, understand their aspirations and co-create solutions.

Project Development Guidance: Assisted Volunteers in designing project proposals, sourcing funding opportunities within and outside of CorpsAfrica, and implementing projects that resonate with the community’s identified needs and desires. Stakeholder Engagement Encouraged and fostered collaboration with local and international partners to enhance project sustainability and impact.

Results

Enhanced Volunteer Competence Volunteers, notably Amadou Alpha Ba, effectively utilized HCD and ABCD approaches to engage with communities, leading to the identification and implementation of meaningful projects at the refugee camp.​Community-Driven Projects The Dzaleka Refugee Camp basketball court serves as a prime example of a project born from genuine community engagement, addressing the youth’s need for recreational and developmental spaces.​Strengthened Community Cohesion The basketball court has become a hub for promoting dignity, social inclusion and overall well-being among the youth in the refugee camp.​Sustainable Partnerships The collaboration with entities like the NBA and Jesuit Refugee Services underscores the project’s sustainability and the potential for future initiatives.

This project was commissioned by CorpsAfrica Malawi, in collaboration with the NBA and performed by Emas, a member of the Proportion Global community. If you’ve enjoyed reading this case and want to dive deeper, we’d love to hear from you and we will connect you with relevant designers like Emas, who worked on this project Contact Us