Zion was born out of one man’s dream to provide a creative and positive social outlet for the young people in his community. Zion, Jamaica, was a tennis player himself who believed that the game could allow young adults to positively channel their energy, provide a possible future career path, and keep young people off the streets. He hoped to afford young adults the same opportunity he was given
– an escape, an opportunity to learn, and the desire to give back. Since our inception, we have introduced hundreds of children to tennis, giving them not only tennis skills but life skills as well. These include values such as integrity, resilience, leadership, teamwork, and excellence. Our training sessions are categorized based on different age and skill levels so that they meet our players at their experience levels. In addition, we offer after-school workshops where students receive assistance with their studies. While we might have started small, we foresee a future where we will be a major force for development in our community and the region at large. Mission Statement
Our mission is to instill discipline and build responsible leaders on the court, in the classroom, and in the community by providing recreational and competitive tennis instruction and academic assistance for the youth of Mt. Zion and surrounding communities. We create an enriching environment where young adults can learn, grow, and have fun with others. Ultimately, we hope to:
● Promote tennis as a viable career/profession
● Use tennis as a vehicle for social and economic enrichment
● Enable students to obtain tennis scholarships abroad
● Develop a love for tennis and uncover possible champions (to have a US Open champion from Jamaica within 10-15 years)
● Provide special instruction and academic assistance to struggling children in the area
● Provide a safe and nurturing environment for the youths of Mt. Zion and surrounding communities
Part of our efforts to provide opportunity for young adults includes an emphasis on encouraging and supporting girls, who have historically lacked representation in Jamaican tennis. Growing up as a ball boy at Half Moon hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Delroy never saw any ball girls, and when looking at Jamaican tennis coaches today, few are women. Many of Jamaica's tennis players and coaches were ball boys at one point; however, girls were never given this opportunity, and those coming from low-income homes rarely got to play the sport of tennis. The Jamaica Non-Profit Tennis Academy Enrichment Center at Mount Zion is now moving to bridge this gender gap.
