The bonds that the students form on the courts remind him fondly of his own years as a Varsity Blues basketball player. “You don’t realize it at the time, but you spend so much time with your teammates,” he says. “You get really close to them. I love that these kids are going to experience that."
It was a simple coincidence that connected Varsity Blues Men’s Tennis Coach Nabil Tadros to the orphanage-turned-school in Egypt that has since become a central part of his life. Nabil, who is also a Blues basketball alum, was heading to Egypt to visit some family members. He headed to a walk-in clinic in search of travel medicine ahead of the trip and crossed paths with a doctor who had a brother in Egypt. The doctor asked if he would be willing to take some medicine to his brother, who was a Jesuit priest at an orphanage in Luxor, a large city several hours south of Cairo. Nabil was intrigued. Not only did he agree, he decided to make his own contributions as well. He and his travel mates gathered up donations of gently used sports equipment from the Newmarket High School where he was a teacher and a basketball coach and loaded up 14 suitcases before making the long journey to Luxor.
The experience changed his life. Nabil was blown away by the dedication of the orphanage staff. He was touched by the excitement of the children over the simple equipment and toys that most children take for granted each day. He knew he wanted to do everything he possibly could to help out.
That first trip was 20 years ago, and Nabil has yet to miss his yearly trip back to the school in Luxor. He has since retired from teaching after a 30-year career with York Region School Board but his dedication to coaching has kept him on as a basketball coach at Huron Heights Secondary School. He also continues to act as Head Coach for the Varsity Blues Tennis Program, a title he is proud to have held since 1984. Nabil is overjoyed when his Varsity Blues players and his Huron Heights girls and boys basketball teams have joined him on his trips back to Luxor over the years. “The more kids I have with me, the more the kids at the school can relate to them,” he says.
Three years ago, the Jesuit priest who ran the orphanage passed away and the orphanage was converted into a school for special needs and low-income children. Each day, the kids arrive for lunch at the school, followed by English lessons and outdoor recreation. The poverty in that area can be staggering, says Nabil. “They just have so little there. Every time I go, I realize how much more they appreciate what we bring them.” Surprisingly it wasn’t the toys or gifts which solicited the biggest reaction from the students; it was the old Varsity Blues uniforms that Nabil brought over. These were donated by the Blues program after a change in sponsorship for the teams. The team’s sweatshirts kept them warm during the cool Egyptian winters and the “foreign” logos were a huge hit with the kids and the staff.
Naturally, Nabil is keen to share his love of tennis and basketball with the students. Thanks to generous donations from his family, friends and colleagues, Nabil has been able to set up the students with sports equipment to ensure they stay healthy and active. The bonds that the students form on the courts remind him fondly of his own years as a Varsity Blues basketball player. “You don’t realize it at the time, but you spend so much time with your teammates,” he says. “You get really close to them. I love that these kids are going to experience that. You really do stay in touch for life.”
While not everyone can make the trip to Egypt or manage a big donation, Nabil likes to let people know that they can still do their small part. It is as simple as packing some extra clothes or toiletries to take on an all-inclusive vacation. “If you’re going to the Caribbean or South or Central America, pack some extra t-shirts, hats, shorts - anything you have that you can leave for the hotel staff and locals,” he says. An added benefit? “You get to come home and there’s no laundry to do!”