Celebrating Little Angels Tutoring 5 Year Anniversary
We are excited to celebrate Philanthropy Tank program, Little Angels Tutoring, for 5 years as a student-led mentorship initiative! The program administers mentoring and tutoring at El Sol in Jupiter for immigrant children ages 5-13 who do not speak English as their first language.
The program was awarded funding in 2019 by Philanthropist Investor, Larry Stern. Since receiving funding, Little Angels Tutoring has successfully executed 6 tutoring semesters. Apart from tutoring, the participants also receive Taekwondo and Chess lessons regularly.
We recently sat down with Little Angels Tutoring cofounder and current president, Nestor Flores, to discuss what he’s achieved and been working on with the program. Read below how Nestor and the children at El Sol have been impacted by Philanthropy Tank!
Tell us about the Chess Club you recently started, as well as your Taekwondo Club you’ve been running?
Since 2019, Little Angels Chess Club has taught children ages 6-14 how to play chess. This year I continue my partnership with El Sol Jupiter Neighborhood Resource Center to teach every Saturday this strategic game to a new group of children. I introduce the board, the pieces, and the rules on how to move each piece individually and their full range of movement and techniques. We use the chessboard and iPads funded by Philanthropy Tank.
Our Taekwondo Club runs on Mondays, and we reach another group of children ages 6-11. We teach kids concentration, stretching for warm-ups, self-defense moves such as punching, kicking, and blocking, Korean vocabulary, and the five tenants of Taekwondo, based on respecting each other. It is gratifying to listen to the children count in Korean while learning their forms.
Tell us more about your background / related work you’ve done to get you to this place.
I am a senior at Suncoast High School, and I have been tutoring children since I was in 8th grade through Little Angels Tutoring and as a member of the National Honor Society. I have played chess since first grade, and I am a Red Belt 3 tip in Taekwondo and am thrilled to teach the children new skills and see them succeed!
In November 2018, my sister and I cofounded Little Angles Tutoring, a free program to assist underprivileged children with homework, reading, and math subjects. A year later, we founded the Chess and Taekwondo Club.
How has Philanthropy Tank played a role in your program and your life?
We were fortunate to be one of the awarded teams from Philanthropy Tank in the 2019 Finals Event. We purchased 20 iPads, Yoga/Taekwondo mats, chessboards, teaching, and school supplies with the funding. We also installed educational apps and puzzles to encourage the children to train their minds. We are very grateful for the mentoring and guidance we received because we can enhance the children’s learning opportunities.
What did you enjoy about the experience?
It warms my heart to see the children get the opportunity to learn new skills or master a skill that they have been struggling with. Seeing their smiles when they get a question right, when they make a successful move in chess, or even when they perform a great kick in Taekwondo makes my day.
Tell me your story and what motivated your work on the Chess and Taekwondo Clubs?
Having Auditory Processing Disorder, one of the doctor’s advice was for me to practice martial arts and play board games. Since Kindergarten, I was enrolled in learning Taekwondo, and my mother taught me to play chess. I realized many children without any learning disability can also benefit from learning Taekwondo and playing chess. We incorporated chess and Taekwondo lessons into our tutoring sessions, and our first Summer Chess and Taekwondo Clubs were born. So now we teach both during the summer and in the fall.
What were the main challenges about your program?
Our programs began before the pandemic, so when Covid-19 hit, we had to transition from face-to-face to virtual. Thankfully, we were able to transition quickly, and even though there were issues during the virtual meetings, we found solutions and a nice balance until it was safe to return to face-to-face.
Another challenge we experience is that our students need more means to buy Taekwondo uniforms. We would love for them to practice wearing the uniforms.
What advice do you have for students currently working on their programs, and for students just getting started with Philanthropy Tank?
Always remember that any help you provide in your community will make a big difference; any support, a word of encouragement, or even a smile, will make a difference in somebody’s life. Make sure to lead your program with passion and be aware that you may have setbacks and challenges, but never give up; it is guaranteed you will succeed.
Any other updates you’d like to share?
We are excited to continue helping the children, even after I attend college; I am a senior this year. Adryena and Little Angels Program is tutoring children in Columbus, Ohio. We are focused on helping as many children as possible for many years to come.