- Cases
- Malawi
Empowering Refugee Communities through Human-Centered Design: The Dzaleka Refugee Camp Basketball Court Initiative
- Commissioned by CorpsAfrica Malawi, in collaboration with the NBA
01 Situation
From 2018–2020, CorpsAfrica set out to strengthen Volunteer capacity across Malawi, Senegal, Morocco and Rwanda by embedding Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Asset-Based Community Development in their engagement approaches. A standout outcome was a community-designed basketball court in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp, demonstrating HCD’s power in refugee settings.
02 Assignment
The role involved designing and delivering HCD/ABCD training, mentoring regional Volunteers, supporting project development and serving as HCD coach to ensure methods translated into actionable, community-led initiatives.
03 Approach
Training focused on empathy, asset mapping and collaborative problem-solving. Continuous coaching helped Volunteers apply insights, co-create solutions and mobilize partners. Guidance in proposal development and stakeholder engagement strengthened feasibility and long-term ownership.
04 Result
Volunteers—most notably Amadou Alpha Ba—confidently applied HCD/ABCD to deliver meaningful, locally grounded projects. The Dzaleka basketball court now fosters dignity, inclusion and youth well-being, supported by partnerships with the National Basketball Association and Jesuit Refugee Service, illustrating sustainable community impact.
Project team: Emas
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