Meet The Founder
There were two things Bendere dreamed of when she was young: becoming an Olympian, and creating a foundation that would support kids who grew up like her.
Bendere Oboya is an Australian Olympian, mentor and mental-health advocate whose journey - on and off the track - has shaped her mission to empower young people. Through athletics, Bendere discovered more than speed and strength: she developed confidence, purpose and community.
Sport taught her structure, discipline and resilience, shaping her belief in the power of structured environments to positively influence young lives.
Growing up, Bendere didn't see athletes who looked like her on TV or in her community. As an Ethiopian born Australian, she didn't have many people to look up to in sport or in spaces around her. That absence shaped her understanding of identity, resilience and the importance of representation - not just seeing someone who looks like you, but seeing someone who believes in you. It sparked a commitment to become that person for others, so young people could recognise their own potential and believe their dreams are possible.
The Oboya Foundation was established from Bendere's belief that athletics is more than performance - it is a structured pathway for development, opportunity and leadership. Through professionally delivered coaching, mentorship and structured programming, the foundation provides safe, disciplined and accountable environments where young athletes can develop both on and off the track.
Committed to maintaining high standards of governance and safeguarding, Bendere is currently undertaking formal studies in Community Services and working toward becoming a Child Safety Officer accreditation. This reflects the Foundation's commitment to compliance, professional standards and the long-term wellbeing of all participants.
"Breaking Limits, Building Futures" is our promise to every young person who steps into our space - that you are not defined by what you didn't have growing up. Here, your potential is bigger, your opportunities are wider and your dreams are welcome.
This message comes from my own journey. I grew up without pathways or programs, yet I still ran beyond what I ever imagined. It's a reminder that no barrier - cultural, financial, or social - can stop a young person who is supported, believed in and given a chance.
Here at Oboya Foundation, we give you that chance. Now, we pass that belief on to the next generation.