Hong Kong’s Love 21 Foundation aims to prove those with Down’s syndrome, autism ready for purposeful employment
- Charity’s job training programme will be financed by Operation Santa Claus, the annual fundraising drive organised by South China Morning Post and RTHK
- Participants will receive a stipend while training for careers such as receptionists and teaching assistants
Carmel Armstrong can recall “crying her eyes out” with joy as she watched a group of teens with Down’s syndrome competing in a dragon boat race and chanting “friendship first, losing second” in late September.
The chief operating officer of Love 21 Foundation, a charity committed to empowering the Down’s syndrome and autistic communities, described it as “the second best day since her daughter was born”.
“I was so proud to be a part of that and how much ability they had,” she said. “[From being] frightened of water, never having been on a boat, and within the six-week training programme, being able to race in the middle of open water. Phenomenal.”
But despite their potential and capabilities, those same teens often face rejection or end up saddled with mundane tasks when seeking jobs.
Armstrong said it was mainly caused by the public’s perception they were not capable or did not have the ability to work.