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TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) — The Anthony Bateman Youth Development Center in Tifton is in its final stages.
The center plans to open at the end of August.
It’s on the corner of 17th Street and Old Omega Road, across from Matt Wilson Elementary School.
Dr. Tonja Tift, a retired Tift County educator, has been named the center’s executive director. This is Tifton’s first-ever youth development center that aims to guide children in the community on the path to success.
“This building, this youth center here was created to have a positive influence on children. Just being able to give them something to look forward to, helping them with school, exposing them to different things so we can take our young people down a positive path,” Tift said.
Kids can experience everything from learning seminars to hands-on career workshops.
The building will also serve as an after-school program with other local organizations such as the YMCA and the Tift County Recreation Center.
In a separate room, Tifton-Tift County Literacy Volunteers will offer remedial reading, GED and financial literacy classes.
“I hope the kids get a chance to see that there is life outside of Tifton. And so in this building, we want to be able to bring them experiences that show them there is life beyond Tifton,” Tift added.
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