Kerosene Lamp Foundation launches mentorship program

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The Kerosene Lamp Foundation, founded by Adonal Foyle launches their newest mentorship program entitled “All-Star Student Athletes.”

 

Six children have been selected from five islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as All-Star Student Athletes to travel to Orlando, USA on Thursday July 15th for a two- week summer camp.

  • Jemmile France – Bequia
  • Zanif Sandy –  Canouan
  • Nemiah Alexander – Mayreau
  • Consolo Adams – Barrouallie, St. Vincent
  • Leandru Edwards – Calliqua, St. Vincent
  • Azizah Stowe – Union Island

 

The youths, aged 14 to16 – five boys and one girl – were nominated by their coaches and have participated and excelled in KLF’s Athletics and Academics Camps in previous years. This program is designed to turn promising young basketball players into successful student-athletes and provide future opportunities for scholarships to help pave the way to their individual success.

The All-Star Student-Athletes, along with two adult chaperones (Michael Penniston of Bequia and Owen Isaacs of Mayreau), will travel to Orlando, Florida from July 15 to 31 for a two-week learning tour. The first week of the tour will focus on basketball, enrolling All-Star Student Athletes in the Youth Basketball of America’s international basketball camp. During the second week, All-Star Student Athletes will be immersed in various educational, health and cultural experiences including academic assessments, etiquette lessons, medical checkups and educational field trips to the University of Central Florida and the Kennedy Space Center. Other fun activities include trips to Universal Studios, Cirque du Soleil and Animal Kingdom.

Throughout the tour, KLF’s founder Adonal Foyle will be working with the student-athletes individually and in group settings to encourage them to motivate them to set high goals and aim to achieve them through focus, determination and academic commitment. The All-Star Student Athletes will record their experiences in a journal throughout the two-week trip and spend 30 minutes reading each day.

“[The ASA Program] will help me to become a better player and this can help me to get a scholarship to go abroad and further my studies and develop a career,” said Azizah Stowe, a 15-year-old All-Star Student Athlete and the only female in the group. “When I grow [up] I will be an Accountant. I want to be able to give back to the Union Island Community [of the Grenadines].”

The All-Star Student Athletes mentorship (ASA) program is inspired by Foyle’s personal life story; from his humble Grenadines beginning, his basketball talent was discovered by two Colgate University professors who brought him to the United States where he played basketball and studied at Colgate on scholarship. This laid the foundation for Foyle’s basketball career that has spanned both coasts with the Golden State Warriors and the Orlando Magic. Foyle’s pursuit of education did not stop with his entry into the NBA, and he is currently finishing up his Masters Degree in Sports Psychology from John F. Kennedy University.

 

The ASA program would not be possible without the local coordination by Mrs. Sabrina Mitchell, President of the Bequia Basketball Association and Mr. Roseman Adams, Acting President of the Southern Grenadines Basketball Association. KLF partners and sponsors include: Nike, the Scotiabank Bright Future Program, Youth Basketball of America, Drs. Lewis & Lewis, P.A., the Florida Hospital, Merrill Lynch, Olive Garden (International Drive), the Orlando Magic, Red Lobster (International Drive), Sand Lake Imaging, Sonic, Universal Studios, and the University of Central Florida.

 

“The generous contributions made to our All-Star Student Athletes program will create long-lasting memories for these student-athletes and transform their lives,” said Foyle. “We deeply appreciate our partners, sponsors and volunteers who are providing bright futures for these special youth.”