Yahya Abdisamed
I'm Yahya Abdisamed — a UBC Commerce student, founder of HABITS, and someone who grew up on the court in Ottawa. I played competitive basketball for over a decade before injury ended my run, and that turn taught me the lesson HABITS is built on: you don't rise to your skills, you fall to your habits. Now I run a summer program developing young athletes across the city — not just into better players, but better humans. Community raised me, so building it back is the work that matters most to me.
HABITS: Where Young Athletes Build the Habits That Build Them
HABITS is a summer basketball and character development program for youth aged 11–17 in Ottawa. Across July and August 2026, athletes train weekly through skill-building, mentorship, and guest speakers drawn from the local basketball community. Founded on the belief that young people don't rise to their skills but fall to their habits, HABITS develops not just better players, but better humans — building discipline, character, and confidence that carry far beyond the court.
https://habitsco.ca/About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
HABITS runs weekly two-hour sessions through July and August 2026 across two age tiers (11–13 and 14–16), combining skill training, team challenges, and reflection. Guest speakers from Ottawa's basketball community mentor athletes throughout. A public Community Day and a season-end showcase extend the program's reach to families and the wider neighborhood.
Project Impact
HABITS reaches roughly 65 Ottawa youth, giving them quality basketball training paired with real mentorship. Beyond skills, athletes build discipline, confidence, and character that carry into school, family, and community. By connecting them with local mentors who've walked the same path, HABITS shows young people what's possible — developing not just better athletes, but better humans.
Project Mission
HABITS develops young athletes into better humans — to build the discipline, character, and confidence that shape who they become on and off the court.
Project Team
HABITS is led by founder Yahya Abdisamed, with co-coach Liban and local guest mentors.
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