Kay-Ramos Brothers Hold Water Polo Camp in Nigeria

Written by Kamal, Hayaat and Awwal Kay-Ramos ’21

The Summer of 2019 was an exceptional one for dozens of swimmers in Abuja, the Federal Capital City in Nigeria, as they were introduced to a new and exciting sport, water polo. The ones who brought about this change were the Kay-Ramos Triplets, who started playing water polo in seventh grade. They usually spend their summers abroad with family and friends, working with the children in orphanages and teaching family and friends the sport of water polo. 
 
This summer, they decided to host an official water polo camp, which came from the encouragement of family members and friends. The Kay-Ramos triplets had to overcome many obstacles, including fundraising for two Olympic standard goalposts and all the necessities needed to host a successful and enjoyable camp. Another challenge was finding a pool and staff to host the camp and attracting participants. Ms. Carroll Vaughan, Gulliver’s head coach and the coach of their club team, was very supportive when she was informed about their plan. She was able to vet their training schedule to comply with the guidelines of the USA Water Polo regulations, as well as donate the caps and balls the participants would use. She was very instrumental in the overall success of the camp and provided continuous support and encouragement.
 
On July 29, two days after their return to Abuja from California, where they participated in the Junior Olympics, the junior trio began their week-long camp at The Regent Schools Abuja. There, they taught the fundamentals of water polo to dozens of Nigerian youths. They hosted a co-ed competition on the last day, which was an excellent experience for the participants. Each participant received a customized certificate and plaque, and now all the participants are clamoring for water polo as an active sport in The Regent Schools and the surrounding regions. The host school is very receptive to having the camp again as the triplets hope to continue this camp yearly.