Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5533/-1/140/
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Tae-Kwon-Do Youth Initiative Celebrates First Graduate Among December Class
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As a result of the fund established at the Anguilla Community Foundation for the Tae-Kwon-Do Youth Initiative, the first specially sponsored children were “graduated” from their white to yellow belts as part of the 2007 exams on Sunday, December 9, 2007. The sponsorship fund was established with the goal of engaging young people who could benefit most from joining the club.
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Congratulations to all the new yellow, green and purple belts for advancing to the next level in Tae-Kwon-Do at Road School on Sunday.
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Clearly, the exams demonstrated unity in friendship, good sportsmanship, individual physical talents, and the skills that can only come from making this sort of commitment to the traditions the club represents.
On observing a class undertake exams for the first time, Reginald Oliver said, “The students’ respect and discipline are amazing!” He has recently become a volunteer for the Youth Crime Watch of Anguilla and wanted to see how Tae-Kwon-Do might help other young people, as a vital activity in the community.
For the first time in 15 years, the Anguilla Tae-Kwon-Do Club has grown so large that the semi-annual exams were split over two sessions with the Grand Master. Melinda Goddard, who helped establish the fund, hopes it will grow even larger. Since the initial sponsorship for six students, additional donations have been made for another three sponsorships – and pledges have been made for a few more in the coming weeks.
From the age of three through adulthood, the Anguilla Tae-Kwon-Do Club has been enhancing students’ self-esteem, developing social skills, and imparting the graceful mind and body control from white belt through black belts since the club began. Today, three 1-hour classes are conducted each week for over 140 students in The Valley – and exemplary behaviour at home and at school are pre-requisites for advancement in the programme. The Initiative hopes to draw additional children and youth into the programme with the support of community donors.
The Anguilla Community Foundation, founded in 1999, is the island’s charitable foundation providing grants and aid to support community programmes and issues on Anguilla. For information regarding the Tae-Kwon-Do programme, contact the president and founder, Mr. Emmanuel Laud, at 235-6267. To sponsor a student through the Fund, please contact the Anguilla Community Foundation at 497-2432.
- Press Release