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Vision Statement
Sankofa Youth Golf Association is a non-for-profit development organization to empower youth in Côte d’Ivoire and Africa to build strength of character through golf. We do so by integrating golf to life skills which allows them to build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do in life.
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Golf in Côte d’Ivoire remains a sport for the wealthy and the elite. Access to golf is controlled and exclusive. Majority of Ivorians, especially young people are not able to access the sport. Young people who have the privilege to pick up the sport do not have access to instruction, and as a result they fail to progress.
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The country’s population is about 25.1 million, with approximately 42% being between the ages of 5 to 18 years. There is a huge need for healthy, safe, and affordable opportunities for young Ivorians to develop life and leadership skills that can better position them to live productive lives. An estimate of 5 million of the Ivory Coast’s population are unemployed due career opportunities. Africa’s youth population is expected to double by 2045.
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Sankofa Youth Golf Association (SYGA)will serve the youth ages 5 to 18. SYGA believes in providing all kids access to the game of golf and instruction by creating a space where they can learn, grow, and be prepared to face the challenges of the future. By using golf-based personal growth programs, kids will learn to build life and leadership skills that empower them in all areas of life including school, friendship and eventually careers. There will be particular focus on those from poor and disadvantaged communities and socio-economic backgrounds. This will be done through leveraging partnerships with selected youth development organizations.
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The Association will also provide ongoing golf coach development to expand the pool of instructors in Côte d’Ivoire. It will establish/cultivate and continuously engage a wide range of organizational partners from the non-profit, private, philanthropic, and government sectors to ensure access to financial and other resources to expand and sustain the core focus of the Association.
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We are hoping that thousands of kids will be able to benefit from SYGA over the next five years.
Tano Malentin – Founder and President
Sankofa Youth Golf Association
