Youths of the Sophia Juvenile Detention Centre will now have the opportunity to participate in karate training, courtesy of the Guyana Karate College (GKC), thanks to the intervention of non-governmental organisation, Enhanced Potential to Inspire Change (EPIC)-Guyana.
Chief Instructor of the Guyana Karate College Frank Woon-A-Tai and Sensei Jeffrey Wong conducted their initial visit to the facility on Tuesday, and the programme is expected to come on stream next week when classes begin.
It is EPIC-Guyana’s hope that the programme will help to boost the self-esteem of the youths and allow them to expend their energy in a manner that is not potentially damaging. Those who participate in the programme will be graded, and can build on their progress once released.
“At EPIC we believe in giving chances, and we try to make the juvenile centre juvenile-friendly,” Brian Backer, co-founder of EPIC Guyana, stated.
