Twenty-three years ago, Gloria entrusted KORI with something priceless: her three children. Her eldest daughter was nine at the time, and her twin boys were just four. Like many working parents, Gloria worried that long hours and everyday responsibilities would mean her children would miss out on opportunities to learn, explore and simply enjoy being children beyond the classroom.
That is where KORI stepped in.
What began as after-school support soon became so much more. Through learning opportunities, outdoor adventures and enriching activities, KORI gave the children a place where they could grow in confidence, discover new passions and feel that they truly belonged. More than a programme, it became, in her words, “a family” and “a community.”
“KORI came at a time when I really needed it,” she recalls. “It was the perfect opportunity… everything I was looking for.”
She feels the impact reached far beyond the children. KORI opened doors for parents too, creating experiences that many had never imagined for themselves. Gloria still remembers going on her very first camping trip alongside her children through KORI—an experience she describes as “enriching and amazing.” It was a reminder that growth, discovery and belonging were not just for the young people, but for families as a whole.
Looking back, Gloria is especially grateful for the confidence and discipline her children developed through the organisation. One memory remains particularly vivid: when professionals from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art visited KORI to introduce the children to acting and performance. Watching them step outside their comfort zones was unforgettable. “Their confidence was shocking,” she says.
For Gloria, KORI’s impact cannot be measured simply by the activities it provided, but by the futures it helped shape.
“People who went to KORI went on to do better things… no one ever went backwards.”
Interview by Linda Ferrante
