From a refugee in Kenya to a historic figure in the NBA, Sarah Zeinab Chan has forged a path defined by resilience, leadership, and transformation. Today, she is not only Africa’s first female scout for the Toronto Raptors, but also a tireless advocate for girls’ education and empowerment across the continent.
Her story is a powerful testament to the idea that sport can do far more than build athletes, it can build nations.
A Journey Forged in Challenge
Born in Khartoum, Sudan (now South Sudan), Chan’s childhood was marked by instability and displacement. In 1998, her family fled civil unrest and resettled in Nairobi, Kenya. It was there, within the uncertain margins of refugee life, that she encountered basketball for the first time.
She picked up the sport at Laiser Hill High School and rapidly distinguished herself as a gifted athlete. Her talent earned her a basketball scholarship to Union University in Tennessee, USA, where she went on to achieve over 1,800 points and 1,100 rebounds, cementing her legacy as one of the university’s most accomplished players.
A Career That Crossed Continents
After college, Chan’s basketball journey continued professionally across Europe and Africa. She played in Spain, Portugal, Tunisia, Angola, and Mozambique, earning accolades and All-American honors along the way. Her experience on international courts shaped not just her skills but also her vision for what sports could offer beyond competition.
With each game, Chan developed a deeper understanding of how athletics intersect with opportunity, mentorship, and community development.
Shattering Ceilings in the NBA
In 2017, during a Giants of Africa basketball camp in Kenya, Chan’s unique talent caught the attention of Masai Ujiri, President of the Toronto Raptors. Her ability to recognize raw talent and inspire young players stood out soon after, she was appointed Lead Scout for Africa for the Raptors.
This appointment marked a historic first: Sarah Chan became the first African woman to scout for an NBA team on the continent.
In this capacity, she travels extensively across Africa, evaluating rising players and building a recruitment network grounded in fairness and opportunity. Her presence has been instrumental in expanding the Raptors’ reach into underserved regions, including South Sudan and Somalia, through the Giants of Africa initiative.
Empowering Girls Through the Apediet Foundation
Chan’s legacy, however, extends far beyond the basketball court. In honor of her mother, she established the Home At Home/Apediet Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on ending child marriage and promoting girls’ education, health, and participation in sports, especially in her native South Sudan.
The foundation provides mentorship programs, scholarships, and leadership training for girls, ensuring that the next generation has access to tools that were often denied to the last. Through her work, Chan is tackling some of the most persistent structural barriers faced by young African women.
Recognition and Impact
In 2022, her trailblazing work was internationally recognized when she was named to the BBC 100 Women list, an annual selection of the most inspiring and influential women around the world. The recognition underscored her multifaceted impact as both a sport leader and a social changemaker.
Chan continues to balance her responsibilities as a scout with speaking engagements, leadership forums, and ongoing foundation work. Whether on the sidelines of an NBA showcase or inside a rural school in East Africa, her message remains the same: talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.
The Legacy in Motion
Sarah Chan’s journey is far from over. As the popularity of basketball surges across Africa and as global sports organizations expand their reach on the continent, she stands at a unique crossroads—where talent development, youth leadership, and gender equity converge.
She is not just identifying future stars of the NBA. She is nurturing the next generation of African leaders, athletes, and dreamers.
In doing so, she proves that even the most challenging beginnings can lead to extraordinary legacies.
