WASHINGTON – This past summer Georgetown University Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Erin Dickerson spent seven days in The Republic of Benin working with the Sports Envoy Program.  While in Africa, she hosted clinics for local youth, held leadership workshops, performed engagement, community outreach and taught female empowerment. 
 
Sports Envoys are athletes and coaches who travel overseas to lead programs that were developed by U.S. embassies and consulates. These American coaches and athletes hold sports clinics for young people and their coaches, participate in community outreach activities and engage youth in a dialogue on the importance of leadership and respect for diversity. Sports Diplomacy manages the Sports Envoy programs, working in cooperation with the U.S. Olympic Committee, U.S. sports federations and professional leagues as well as the intercollegiate ranks.
 
The program included an incredible group of Envoys as well as local supporters including the mayor of Ouidah who is the only female mayor in the nation.  Additionally, the Deputy Chief of Mission in Benin Laura Hruby attended the program showing her Georgetown pride as an alum of the University.
 
Dickerson is back in the States and in the midst of preseason for the 2018-19 season as she reflects on her time with the program.
 
How did you get involved with the program?
Coach Howard came to me and said, "I know you love to travel. Are you interested in going to Africa?" He had received an email from Tracy Ellis-Ward (from the BIG EAST Conference) that the Sports Envoy Program, put together through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs division of the U.S. Department of State, was looking for coaches that may be interested in going to Benin to put on a weeklong basketball clinic for girls that don't usually have the opportunity to play sports.
 
What was your most memorable experience on the trip?
One of the most memorable experiences I had was going to the Door of No Return. It was just so powerful. You've learned so you know what has happened in our history with slavery. But to actually be there, and reading about the practices that took place. Being at the port where the ships were loaded - it was extremely impactful.
 
What impact do you feel you made on the young girls you worked with?
I tried to keep getting across to them that basketball taught me so many things and took me so many places. They can succeed despite the odds against them, like many of us do.
 
How will you apply these experiences to coaching this season?
I came back with such an extreme sense of gratitude. I think that's the biggest thing I learned being over there. I look at what we are blessed to have every single day. And that's the mindset and perspective I try to bring on and off the court. I think it's so easy for us to get caught up and forget that not everyone has this same opportunity that we have. I want to continue to bring that perspective to our girls every single day in whatever way they may need it.
 
The women's basketball team will open the season Nov. 6 at Richmond before hosting Maryland-Eastern Shore on Nov. 9 at McDonough Arena.  Season tickets and partial season plans are now available at WeAreGeorgetown.com/tickets.