The PAMA (Perspective And Mindsets Alignment) program addresses the complex challenges faced by the South Sudanese community in Australia, including cultural shocks, mental health issues, strained family dynamics, youth problems, and difficulties with legal and social systems. Traditional solutions have been inadequate, so PAMA uses innovative and diverse approaches to overcome these challenges.

The program aims to bridge physical, emotional, and mental health gaps among parents, children, youth, and systems, create activities to help parents guide their children within a new cultural context, provide opportunities and support for families and individuals through appropriate services, and unite traditional and contemporary cultural perspectives for better outcomes.

PAMA collaborates with parents, youth, elders, sporting groups, religious groups, cultural groups, professionals, and historians to achieve its goals, focusing on understanding differing perspectives between younger and older generations, revisiting traditional South Sudanese cultural norms, and learning modern Australian cultural norms.

The key challenges addressed include cultural shocks, mental health problems, strained family dynamics, youth issues, and difficulties with legal and social systems.

By fostering understanding and providing tailored solutions through open conversations and collaborative efforts, PAMA aims to improve cultural integration, mental health, family dynamics, and youth development, enhancing understanding and collaboration across generations and cultures. Through PAMA program, we creating a cohesive and resilient South Sudanese community in Australia.

PAMA – Perspective And Mindsets Alignment - Unity in Diverse Solutions for Diverse Problems

Canberra Eagles Basketball Program

The Canberra Eagles Basketball Program, established in 2006, started with just a few male athletes and has grown into a highly successful initiative over the years. The program has been instrumental in promoting the participation of both girls and boys, breaking cultural barriers and beliefs. Currently, the program caters to over 60 athletes across Canberra, aged 5 to 25 years, with new members joining every month. It welcomes individuals from all nationalities eager to learn basketball skills and engage in cross-cultural education.

The success of the Canberra Eagles Basketball Program is attributed to the dedication of volunteer community youth and the generosity of Radford College, which partners with Eagles by allowing the use of their facility for free every Saturday. This partnership is further strengthened by the service exchange of Garang Kuer Bul—Young Canberra Citizen of the Year for Individual Achievement Award 2011—who is the Head Coach and President of Eagles Sports Association, participating in Radford programs and mentoring through PAMA – Perspectives and Mindsets Alignment. Currently, the Eagles Sports Association and Basketball ACT are in partnership to strengthen the program.

Dedicated to grassroots development, the Canberra Eagles Basketball Program advocates for girls' participation in basketball, instilling discipline and important values in young people. The program is designed to cater to everyone, from beginners to semi-professionals. Each Saturday, 2-hour basketball sessions are held for all groups, with volunteer coaches assigned to each group.

Serving as a transitional basketball academy for the community, the program feeds into Basketball ACT and assists underdeveloped athletes while addressing cultural barriers. It meets community needs by tackling financial hardships, promoting an understanding of the benefits of sports, and aligning the schedule to fit parents' availability for dropping off and picking up their kids. Cultural gatherings and family commitments are also considered to enhance participation.

The program provides free basketball coaching for its members and runs year-round, encompassing 45 weeks of engagement and basketball clinics. It focuses on skill development, from fundamental to advanced skills, game philosophy, and group-specific drills tailored for different ages and skill levels. The program includes techniques and analysis sessions, scrimmages for real-game practice, engaging fitness activities, and provides constructive feedback and encouragement.

The program features the Eagles Elites for advanced athletes and includes participation in SSANBA tournaments, local tournaments, and friendly games, emphasizing leadership, strategy, and peak performance. Weekly training sessions are held for all groups, with specialized training for Eagles Elites. The Eagles Elites are also connected to the Bul Kuol Mentorship program, ensuring family and athlete support.

The program participates in major tournaments such as the SSANBA National Classic in July for U14, U16, and U18 boys and girls, and the SSANBA Summer Slam in December for U20, men, and women, alongside other local tournaments. Individual athletes and families are encouraged to enrol or join mainstream local clubs at Basketball ACT when confident or financially stable. The Bul Kuol Camp is another significant program accessible to our athletes.

Eagles Programs are membership-based, requiring all athletes to register to receive the full benefits. However, community education, awareness, and individual one-off assistance do not require membership, as our coaches are committed to community development, wellbeing, and growth.

Supporting Athletes Love for Education (SALFE)

The Eagles Education Support Program is a culturally appropriate initiative designed to support the academic success and career aspirations of children and young people belonging to Canberra Eagles Basketball. The program provides structured educational support before their basketball training sessions on Saturday mornings, ensuring a balance between academic achievement and sports engagement. By integrating education with their passion for basketball, the program will create a strong foundation for the future success of Eagles players and will support the South Sudanese community in Canberra.

Canberra Eagles Basketball has been operating in Canberra for more than a decade. Led by Garang Kuer Bul, Eagles brings together all children and young people from all different cultural background but mainly the South Sudanese community for high performance basketball training. These children and young people play for various clubs and teams around Canberra. Several Eagles have gone on to play professionally and internationally. The South Sudanese migrant experience in Australia is especially challenging. Many families have experienced trauma in South Sudan. Here in Canberra, many parents face the challenges of supporting their children’s education without having received an education themselves, and meeting living costs with minimal financial resources.

To support the Eagles and their families, Garang Kuer Bul has developed a program called PAMA (Perspectives And Mindsets Alignment). This Education program is part of PAMA Solution.