Seeking $1,600 to support tennis clinics for children in Liberia.

Youth for Tennis Liberia (YFTL) is a grassroots initiative led by Coach Alfred Kandakai, an International Tennis Federation Level 2 Coach and technical director of the Liberian Tennis Federation. Since 2010, Coach Alfred has been dedicated to teaching tennis to children in Liberia, a country still rebuilding from years of civil war. Opportunities for young people are limited, and sports like tennis are rare, with football being the dominant game.

In 2019, I met Coach Alfred while working in Liberia and was deeply moved by his passion and commitment to the children. When I returned home, I knew I wanted to help. Since 2020, I have been supporting Coach Alfred in raising funds for lessons, tournaments, and, most recently, the construction of a tennis court on the grounds of a high school just outside the capital. This new court is one of the first built for a community since the late 1980s and is the first to be part of a school curriculum in Liberia.

YFTL has achieved remarkable results: the court extension is now complete, and introductory tennis clinics have reached over 5,000 students at 8 different schools in the Greater Monrovia area. The closing ceremony was covered by local media and attended by high-profile individuals. Reports included: https://frontpageafricaonline.com/sports/liberia-youth-for-tennis-ptr-foundation-expand-game-to-liberian-schools/

Tennis is now part of the PE programs at Serdia Technical, Jimmy Jolocon High School, and Life International School. The head of the Joseph N Boakai Foundation visited the clinics on the recommendation of Liberia’s President, and Liberia’s Olympic Committee met with Coach Alfred to discuss expanding tennis programs. One of YFTL’s female students has won several national tournaments and will compete in Angola at the All Africa Youth Games. Thanks to Alfred’s coaching, three schools have chosen orphaned students to represent them in tennis tournaments, awarding scholarships that cover school fees and uniforms.

We are now seeking support to run 6 clinics for 25 children in December and 8 clinics in January. The funds raised will go directly toward equipment, coaching, and making tennis accessible to more children in lower-income communities. Starting in 2024, we received our first grant from the Professional Tennis Registry Foundation, which serves as an acknowledgement of the important work Alfred is undertaking. Your support will help us continue this important work, giving kids the chance to learn, grow, and be part of something positive. Please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser to help us reach even more children.

Our website will soon be moving. For now it is:

https://youthfortennislibe.wixsite.com/youth-for-tennis-lib