Youth of Tomorrow’s inaugural School Education Program (SEP) was launched at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre with more than 200 primary school students from Parramatta North, Warwick Farm, Condell Park and Merrylands participating in the program.
The SEP was first held in 2008 at Melbourne Park (home of the Australian Open) and in 2017 at Pat Rafter Arena (Queensland).
Within an educational and sporting environment, this ground breaking program educates year 6 primary school students about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle through the sport of tennis and the values of mateship through a commemorative presentation about the Gallipoli campaign.
Until today, the SEP has hosted up to 8,100 primary school children including those from low social economic backgrounds and gives priority of access to students within regional areas.
This pathway program is produced in partnership with Tennis NSW with its Co-founders Umit Oraloglu and Australian tennis legend Pat Cash.
“Our priority is to deliver positive outcomes for communities, which enables youth to engage, learn and aspire to remain in school and we are thrilled to be introducing this program to NSW for the first time,” Oraloglu and Cash said.
On the day, students will engage in daily activities including a special presentation about the role of the ANZACs at Gallipoli, ANZ Tennis Hot Shots and a tour of Ken Rosewall Arena.
Youth of Tomorrow have partnered with Merrylands RSL Sub Branch, who will organise and present the education component of the program.
President of Merrylands RSL, Rob Grimley is delighted the Sub Branch could be involved with the program.
“Merrylands RSL Sub-Branch is pleased to assist in the education of our future leaders and promoting community Spirit through sport,” said Grimley
The education aspect of the program also explains the friendship that exists today between Australia and Turkey.
Turkish Vice Consul in Sydney, MS Gökçe Över, believes that projects like SEP contribute to the strengthening of the exemplary relations between both nations.
“It is our shared history that makes the friendship between Turkey and Australia so special. Today the battle grounds of Gallipoli where soldiers of different nations lie in peace, side by side, stand as an eternal monument for peace and friendship and will continue to do so.
Turkey has been and will always be the most welcoming and gracious host to ANZAC grandchildren.
We will continue to work together with Australia to further deepen our special relations befitting our historic ties and in line with this understanding support projects like SEP which has potential to contribute to the exemplary relations between our nations through education,“ said Över.
Supporting the delivery of the program is PRO IT, which is the National Principal Partner of the SEP.
“As the National Principal Partner we are delighted that the Inaugural SEP program is now being delivered in our home state of NSW. I have personally seen the program delivered successfully in both Melbourne and Brisbane. The program is both educational in the sense that it promotes team values, comradeship, goal setting which will ensure these children a well-balanced future and most of all it is also fun filled day for all the children,” said Mr Bekir Kilic, CEO of PRO IT.
In conjunction with Tennis NSW, the main purpose of the program is to build stronger communities tomorrow by engaging with youth today and delivering a youth empowerment program that inspires self-purpose and drives positive change.
Head of Participation Tennis NSW, Matt Starr states that the SEP will be a once in a lifetime experience for these school children who have never visited a world class venue.
“We’re delighted to welcome hundreds of primary school students to Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, home to the new ATP World Team Cup, to inspire a future generation and through their experience with tennis on the day, instil the values and life skills that playing sport brings with it,” said Starr.
Each school attending the SEP will receive educational booklets from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs NSW and Canberra to put in their library as a resource for students.
Program Partners will also receive a limited edition “Sands of Gallipoli The Centenary 1915 – 2015” figurine containing authentic sand from Gallipoli. These items have been kindly donated by Military Shop, the official suppliers of the SEP.
