Shuttle Time Tutor: Badminton Federation of Niger
Ï spent my childhood in Niamey (Niger Republic) with my parents, brothers and sisters. It was a peaceful life. When I was child I like to study and followed my father and my brothers to the bush with our animals and sometimes I rested at home to help my mother prepare lunch. My father wanted me to become a barrister and I wanted to become a nurse to help other women.
One day at school I heard my classmates speak of sport and asked me if I wanted to play with them. I told my parents I wanted to become a player. My father said I could not because I was a woman.
One of the problems in our country is that women cannot become athletes. One day I begged him to allow me to pursue sport, and he agreed. That’s how I became a player. I played tennis, and then I discovered badminton.
First Impressions
The first time I saw badminton was in 2017 during an activity that they organised in the stadium where I played tennis. I assisted with my friends that is how I became a badminton player.
The shuttle appeared to me like a flower and I had the feeling to try it, and I felt that was amazing and very simple. I said this is the sport I need. Badminton is my favourite sport, and I became a national player. I teach others what I learnt. I’m now a Shuttle Time Tutor. I have trained a number of girls and Para badminton players. I want to learn more.
What Badminton Means
Badminton gave me the chance to teach many people in my country what makes me very happy. I do two activities now: study and play badminton.
My experience in the development of badminton in the community has been very pleasant. It’s easy to learn how to play, but there are still plenty of complexities that can make the game challenging and exciting. Playing badminton comes with a lot of social benefits. For one, it provides a fun outlet for meeting new people and can help you stay connected to your community.
Lessons from Shuttle Time
Shuttle Time is an innovative programme that helps to introduce badminton in more schools, it enables children to learn with simple and easy methods. The biggest lesson that I have learned from Shuttle Time is we can get teachers to learn and teach, and children to learn by breaking a relatively difficult task into smaller units.
