The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) welcomes City Community Tennis Club at the National Tennis Centre (NTC). This club was founded within the community as an outreach program for the inner-city kids and has been officially in place since 2017. The program or coordinator is Mr Cory Francis. The program provides free tennis instructions and life lessons to kids from the inner city.
The program has received assistance from the Royal Bahamas Police Force who is responsible for the transportation of the children to and from the National Tennis Centre. The following Royal Bahamas Police Force Band members were on hand during the most recent tennis session: Corporal Simms 1255, Constable Smith 3842 and Sergeant Godet 2621. Mr Francis noted that community leaders also have joined in the efforts including Mr Valentino Brown, Mr Chemaco Godet, and Mr Xavarie Godet. The intention is that the children be properly supervised and trained in the sport of tennis in a safe and controlled environment. On Saturday the kids from the Bain and Grants Town were instructed in tennis lessons
at the NTC. Assisting Mr Francis was tennis junior Maddison Bowleg.
The President of The BLTA Mr Perry Newton was on hand to welcome the kids and interact with them on the court. Mr Francis noted “Our combined goal is to give the children from the inner city a chance to open themselves up to opportunities that may not have been afforded to them, with the use of tennis. We hope that from this sport they learn discipline, develop sportsmanship, communication skills, build persistence, stamina, and teamwork, but most of all discover that they are capable of so much more than they ever thought possible. By taking them out of their comfort zone and introducing them to new experiences, we expect to see them emerge and thrive as they find their purpose and become young adults.” Thanks is extended to Mr Ken Kerr who provided donations which aided in lunch for the kids.
The BLTA and the NTC fully support this initiative and applaud Mr Francis for his commitment to teaching the community kids. We are pleased to provide a wholesome and conducive environment for this program to operate and flourish at the NTC. The ongoing lessons are possible through the collaborative efforts of Mr Cory Francis, the police, the BLTA and the community leaders. This program will positively impact many young children lives for many years to come!
Original Post Date: 27/1/2021
