Two young men considered progressive in the Virgin Islands community have donated two shot clocks for the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) Basketball Court. Photo: Provided

Speaking to this news site, Stoddard said that the basketball court at YEP was being under-utilised and they decided that this would be a good project to take on. Photo: Provided

The presentation was made today December 16, 2015 at YEP’s centre located in East End, Tortola.

Making the presentation were Chezley L. D. Stoddard and Kevon S. Lettsome. The two are in the process of forming a non profit organisation called Reaching Out.

Lettsome is the organisation’s President and Stoddard the Vice-president and the group is now in its infancy but is off to a running start by reaching out to the needs of the community.

Speaking to this news site, Lettsome said that the handing over was more than just giving back to YEP. It is about helping the children learn the rules of the game of basketball.

“We chose to donate the shot clocks to the YEP Foundation because based on me growing up in the community and being a part of it as both a student and an instructor I saw the need for improving the facility bring the kids up to par and to know the rules and be able to have a real time experience like they watch on TV with the NBA,” he said.

He said that besides the Multipurpose Sports Complex, YEP is going to be the first facility with shot clocks installed to better enhance the kids’ skills and knowledge of the game.

“For me it is just about giving back to the community and the institution which played a major role in my upbringing in that community. It is much more than just giving back to YEP, which is like a family to me. And Mr Stoddard jumped on it as a good initiative, hence our presentation today,” he said.

Speaking to this news site, Stoddard said the basketball court at YEP was being under-utilised and they decided that this would be a good project to take on.

“Kevon and I are from East End and several of these districts do not have recreational facilities. Most persons in this district love basketball and what we realised is that the Youth Empowerment Programme has a basketball court but it was under-utilised,” he said.

“We decided to make a contribution to enhance the facility by donating shot clocks so that the kids could practice their passing and coordinating of plays on the 24 second shot clock so that they become better basketball players and hopefully go through to the NBA in the future,” he said.