Letters to the Editor

An after-school program calls for help

I am an African American male who lives in Dorchester, and I am writing this letter in regard to how the state chooses recipients of aid for after-school programs. I have been operating an after-school program at the Trotter Elementary School in Dorchester for three school years. I have all the legal licenses and all paperwork in order. The only thing I don’t have is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt number. Each year I am denied, getting little more than a “Keep up the good work, but we have no funding.” Well, where is all the funding for after-school programs going, and how do you qualify?

I run an academic after-school program called Save Another Youth Taekwondo (SAY-T) Inc. We are nonprofit, and I am the founder and chief instructor. We provide students with homework help and tutoring for an hour, and then I teach them self-defense. We focus on discipline and the development of the whole child.

I have about 45 students whose parents pay according to their income, and about 10 of those students attend for free. The highest-paying parent pays $25 a week for after-school services; some pay as low as $10 per week. I fear that without funding aid, I will not be able to continue providing these valuable services.

We are in need of help. These parents can not afford to pay regular prices for after-school services — that’s why they turned to me, along with the fact that I have a good success rate of helping children overcome obstacles in life. We need the public to know that we exist and need help. I cannot continue without help.

Tarif Aziz
President/Chief Instructor
SAY-T Inc.

+ Add Comment

Oct 16 13:53pm by G. Djata Bumpus [72.79.204.95]

Hey brother,

What you are doing is quite worthy. I woud base such a program's funding on proposals for activities. For example, you dhoul be able to get some money from groups like your leocak "arts" council. the Haymarket group, run by the Pillsbury family is very generous. Also, you can have live performances fr the community. Ther are many ways for you to garner income.

At any rate, what you are doing s quite worthy. Perhaps, you can approach a large church like Twelth Baptist about getting help. You can also get help from Northeastern University with students to help with the homework; thye should be allowed to use the time towards honoring their work-study obligatios.. The possibilities are limitless.

Stay strong, bro'!

G. Djata Bumpus