Coach AK Ikwuakor in a football huddle with kids at last year’s Empower2Play camp in Quezon City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CONCORD, New Hampshire – For the second year, Empower 2 Play International Sports Camps for Children will be hosting Filipino kids at its inspirational two-day event Aug. 9 to 10 at Marcos Field in Quezon City.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Focused on American football, the camp hosts children who are eager to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, goal-setting, respect, commitment, planning and effective communication adding up to three weeks of life skills education.
Some 200 “under-resourced” children from ages 8 to 13 will be hosted at this year’s camp.
The organization was founded in August 2013 with the first camp for 75 children held also in Quezon City, Philippines, in partnership with Philippines Magazine International.
Empower 2 Play focuses on providing an experience that inspires children through learning new life skills, so they can inspire their families and communities with the new skills they’ve learned during the camp.
The first camp in the Philippines was led by AK Ikwuakor (“Coach AK”), an All-American track and field athlete and Olympic hopeful.
Coach AK also holds certifications in as a sports performance specialist, NCAA recruiting coach and is also the associate dean of Students at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire.
This year’s camp for 200 is made possible with the help from the local businesses and families. Donations are still welcome, according to the organizers.
“We have been blessed with the local support we are getting in the Philippines,” said E2P founder Ikwaukor. “However, with the competition to fundraise, it is challenging for an organization like ours to get fully funded for events we hold.”
Local sponsors and volunteers have been working to support Empower 2 Play for a second year, but there are still items that need to be donated or purchased.
Organizations who wish to give support can contact Empower 2 Play at https://www.empower2play.org or email at info@empower2play.org.
Individuals may also donate via Fundraise.com at https://www.fundraise.com/camp-ak-philippines-the-philippines-magazine-2nd-annual- empower-to-play-youth-football-camp/camp-ak-philippines.