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For the second straight year Cowbell Milk was our partner in Brazzaville, Serge Ibaka’s hometown and the capital of the Republic of Congo. The partnership is solidified and growing, and the charitable plan put together is having a major impact during the whole year. Working closely with orphanages and youth centers, the partnership provides dairy products on a monthly basis, satisfying a basic need for the children living in these institutions.

In June 2017, the Foundation’s expedition visited three centers (Ecole Speciale, La Bonne Semence, Espace Jarrot)and greeted 4 more (Notre Damme de Nazareth, Coeur Immacule de Marie, St Joseph Gaston Celeste, Soeur Dorcas) during the anual sports and culture event Ibaka Games, delivering product and spending time with the dedicated people in charge of the institutions. Bigger plans to develop their facilities are in the works as the partnership with Cowbell grows.

The Kimbondo Pediatrics, Orphanage and Hospital in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, has a special place in the Foundation’s heart. The connection that was made in the summer of 2014 with Father Hugo, his staff of nurses and collaborators and, specially the almost a thousand boys and girls that live there, made a lasting impression. This is why for the fourth year the Foundation collaborated with Kimbondo.

Once again, the boys and girls greeted the expedition led by Serge Ibaka with enthusiasm and joy. The kids received gifts and sang, danced and played with the expedition. Father Hugo proved to be once again a great inspiration in helping others, showing humility and dedication to a cause that none one should forget. In communication with Father during the year, the Foundation made sure to provide the supplies that were needed. It won’t be the last time.

New team, new city, new community. But the goal of giving back stays the same. Right before Thanksgiving, we partnered up with the Orlando Magic and Amway to give away 450 turkeys and Thanksgiving meals to Orlando families. Serge Ibaka delivered the turkeys personally and took time to meet with some of the families. “Thanksgiving is about giving back and I felt like we had to do something in my new community. Sometimes a gesture like this can bring a family together or help a family enjoy a holiday so it’s always worth it to give a hand”, said Serge.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosted the fourth anual Serge Ibaka Foundation Charity Gala benefiting the Foundation and Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe’s Sewing for Hope Foundation. The Gala gathered 700 hundred people from Oklahoma and other parts of the country and the World, including Sister Rosemary that came all the way from Uganda.

“The first year we had less than 200 people and now 700! To see how we have grown and the support that the Oklahoma community has given us is incredible“, said Serge. “I am blessed to have the opportunity to partner with great people to help many children in Congo and Africa“.

The Foundation executive director, Pere Gallego,  expressed his gratitude for all the support. “All our partners, sponsors and donors are genuinely interested in helping Serge’s and Sister’s Foundations and we feel blessed for that. The Oklahoma community is always behind us and we will work to grow even more in the future”.

                                 Photos by JP Wilson and Zachary Beeker.

Serge Ibaka surprised four Oklahoma City single mothers and their children with a shopping spree at a local Walmart. Serge understands what it’s like growing up in a single parent home and has a big attachment to a community that has embraced him since the year 2009. Serge also blessed the moms with gift cards and acknowledged how difficult it is to raise kids alone.

Serge encouraged the kids to do their best in school and in all activities and to always obey their moms. He also told them to dream big and follow their passions, in accordance with the Foundation’s motto: “Anything is possible”.

 
                                 Photos by JP Wilson and OKC Thunder

In the 2015 documentary “Son of the Congo”, filmed during the summer of 2014, Serge Ibaka encounters a young congolese basketball player named Ricardo. Serge becomes Ricardo’s role model and inspiration, and gives him a powerful piece of advice: “don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make your dreams come true. Anything is possible”. Ricardo took this message to heart, and one year later, in the summer of 2015, the two reunited and shared specials moments in Brazzaville, their shared hometown.

In his most recent trip back home, Oklahoma’s KFOR with Lance West travelled to Brazzaville with Serge and documented his reunion with Ricardo, amongst other charitable activities by the Foundation.

Serge gave Ricardo a pair of adidas basketball shoes – which he longs for in the documentary -, basketball shorts and a Serge Ibaka Foundation t-shirt. But, more importantly, he encouraged him and his family and offered support and advice, hopefully leaving a mark for life on this young kid, another son of the Congo.

Watch the “Son of the Congo” documentary trailer:

The Serge Ibaka Foundation wanted to contribute to the students start of the 2015-2016 school year in Kinshasa, DRC, and organized a giveaway during two days. The boys and girls from different grades and ages of 10 different schools in the area received 20.000 notebooks. The donation was welcomed with enthusiasm by the students. Erick Kibonge, one of the Foundation’s managers in Kinshasa, noted that “this boys and girls are excited to see that someone cares about their education and show their happiness and gratefulness when they receive help. Activities such as this one help inspire them and realize that education is very important for their future“.    

The list of schools visited was: École Primaire Amour et Liberté in Masina, École Primaire Saint Marc in Kisangani, École Primaire Sainte Thérèse in Ndjili, École Secondaire Saint Martin, École Primaire Don Bosco in Petro-Congo, Institut Molende in Matete, École Primaire Kauka in Kauka, Complexe Scolaire Bimanzak in Bumbu, Saint Antoine in Selembao and Complexe Scolaire Mbamba.