The Kenville Horne Sports Academy has donated a number of football shoes and other gears to youths in Rose Hall, where the academy is based.
The donation, valued around EC$2,750, was presented to a number of young footballers in the presence of their parents or a representative.
Director of the academy, Kenville Horne, said the shoes came from his relative Leolene Phillips who is based in the United States but is originally from Bequia.
Delanzo Williams, Beniko Stapleton, Jayshawn Louie, Silvano Richards, Venick Stapleton, Nick Stapleton, Nicky Stapleton, Danielson Richards, Deshawn Patterson, Ronaka Roberts, and Coby Stapleton were on hand to receive their donations in person.
Horne said that many of the youths play football but often times without any shoe or the correct shoe for the sport.
Therefore he set about seeking help for them and Phillips responded.
“When Leolene saw photos of the youths playing football barefooted, she said, ‘They really need help, and I hope that by helping, others will feel compel to help as well,’” Horne said.
The recipients expressed appreciation for the donation.
Elliot Ferdinand, father of Silvanno Ferdinand, expressed the hope that the youths take care of the football shoes, so that they can last a long time.
The ccademy also presented a cricket shoe worth EC$280 to Benniton Stapleton, atalented cricketer from the community, who has represented SVG in the under 19 division.
Horne expressed thanks to William “Kojah” Anthony, Andrew Miller, amongst other persons for their assistance.
“Just last month the programme collected a number of footballs from the Rotary Club of St. Vincent South, along with some corner flags and this is another indication that there are organisation and good corporate citizens who are willing to invest in our youths, and we are very grateful,” Horne said.
Assistance for fundraising activities also came from the SVG Cocoa Company and the International Business Services (IBS) Ltd.
The academy says that more youths in the community and in other communities in North Leeward stand to benefit soon.
When children can’t afford soccer shoes that’s a sure sign of poverty.