myHK: Love 21 Foundation Update
I wanted to write a blog on Love 21 Foundation to let you guys know what’s going on and what’s going to happen in the near and not so near future.
I know a lot of you reading this have supported Love 21 Foundation, either through purchasing products from The Book Jar Co. or through attending fundraising parties. I’d like to thank you now for giving me the opportunity to start this and spend more time with my good friends! I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoy my time with the Love 21 and how excited I am about the future of this charity!
So, right now, Love 21 Foundation is roughly 4 months old. Our football program is off to a flying start! We have played almost every Saturday at our new indoor facility, and the kids are getting better every session. Our attendance has been perfect. In fact, every practice the kids are there early, very early, because they’re so excited to play!
We will have a friendly football tournament with the Hong Kong Football Club at the end of February. Followed by a fun pizza party for all.
In the near future we will extend our playing hours to involve more participants. We will also aim to travel with the kids to Cambodia for the opportunity to play with a Down syndrome association there & have an incredible cultural exchange.
We have officially started our yoga and hiking programs as well. We are doing yoga outside in Tamar Park near the Admiralty MTR. The setting is amazing! I’m still buzzing after how well our first yoga session went! The kids were so good and our volunteer instructor Bernice did a wonderful job.
Hiking starts this coming Sunday (if the weather isn’t crazy) and I’m really excited about this! We will be hiking up Mt. Parker in Quarry Bay. Hiking is such a great activity for everyone, and will be very beneficial for our group.
It is always going to be a goal of mine to promote awareness and integration. As you may have read in a previous blog of mine on this site, I knew nothing of Down syndrome until I moved to Hong Kong 10 years ago. What a shame that is!! I feel that I’m so much better off for having known these new friends of mine and I want to share this experience.
That is why we are going to open up the yoga and hiking programs to the public (you!). If you would like to come out and do yoga with us, or go hiking, we’d love for you to join us. You can take as big or small of a role as you’d like.
Here are the upcoming dates, if you’d like to join;
24/1-Hiking
21/1-Yoga
14/2-Yoga
21/2-Hiking
28/2-Yoga
20/3-Yoga
27/3-Hiking
Both yoga and hiking are on Sundays. Yoga starts at 5:30pm in Tamar Park. For hiking, we meet at the Quarry Bay MTR, exit A at 3:00pm.
To participate, simply buy a Love 21 DOTS shirt from www.theBOOKJARcompany.com (all profit goes to Love 21 Foundation), and wear it to the event. Send me a message through our FB page or email me at love21foundation@icloud.com to let me know you’ll be joining.
The Future!
Love 21 Foundation is currently in the process of becoming a registered charity (currently we’re just a society). Once registered, I hope to start our new health and nutrition program, which is the main reason I started Love 21 Foundation.
I truly believe that there is a great connect between the gut and the brain and that those with special needs, especially those with Down syndrome, will benefit greatly from a healthier diet.
We will promote diets that limit processed and glutinous foods. We will work with a top nutritionist, and a team of counsellors and medical professionals to create a world class nutritional program for the Down syndrome and autistic community in Hong Kong.
We will of course keep expanding our range of programs to include activities like dance, Pilates, aerobics and so many more!
Lastly, I want to emphasise that Love 21 Foundation will always be extremely focused on being one of the most financially efficient charities in the world. It’s extremely important to me that people know and trust that when they support Love 21 Foundation, that money is going to the kids and their needs.
If you’re interested in being a part of Love 21 Foundation in any way, or have any questions, please get in touch!
Check out our Love 21 Foundation Facebook page Here !
Cheers everyone! And stay warm!
Mr.J
The Guest Room 
Congratulations on such a wonderful job. It sounds like things are progressing exceedingly well. Wishing you and your team all the best.
Cheers
Thanks! Exciting times to say the least !!