By Priscilla Lightsey | Founder HOPE Beijing
Howdy HOPE Supporters,
HOPE has had a busy few months!
The HKJC (Hong Kong Jockey Club), in addition to providing horse racing, also has an RDA (Riding for the Disabled) program and a large charity program. Top members of the HKJC visited HOPE last spring and were pleased with our program. When they decided to hold their first “Horses in Therapy Conference”, they chose Beijing so that attendees could come to HOPE and see us in action. It was quite an honor! Priscilla, Lucia, our Program Director, and Jimmy Zhao, our Equine Trainer and Manager, spoke at the conference. The following day, a charter bus brought the conference attendees to HOPE. While it was considerable pressure on the entire team, it was also a tremendous privilege to be able to share our knowledge while networking with others. Teams from the five other centers in Mainland China attended the conference as did the Secretary Generals of the China Equestrian Association and the local chapter of the horse association.
After the conference, Lucia and Priscilla were invited to speak on a panel held in a lovely bookstore/café. Amanda Bond, Head of Equestrian Affairs with HKJC and Chair of the Para Equestrian Technical Committee at Fédération Équestre International (FEI) and Jojo Wong, the Equestrian Affairs Senior Manager of the HKJC, were also speakers. During the conversation, Amanda said that HOPE was one the best program she had ever seen! When asked why, she stated: because of the people and the horses. She thought the team was skilled and caring, and the horses were well trained and well cared for. Wow! High praise from a knowledgeable professional. Priscilla and Lucia both cried (on camera, as the interviews were being live cast on WeChat).
Currently, summer camps are in full swing despite the heat and rain in Beijing. The amazing HOPE team is working hard to provide fun, safe, social, and educational experiences for the campers. Fortunately, the team, including the horses, will take a three-four week break in August - a wise decision since the heat and humidity can be a bit too much that time of year.
Hope all is well with you, wherever in the world you may be. And thank you for being a HOPE supporter. HOPE was the first NG0 (non-governmental organization) in mainland China to offer equine-assisted services. Your help assists us - the pioneers in this field in China - to have a far-reaching impact as others are beginning to develop such programs. Your generous donations have a far reaching effect too! We are very grateful for your support. Thank you.
In gratitude,
Priscilla
Priscilla, Amy, and the HOPE team
By Priscilla Lightsey | Founder HOPE Beijing
By Priscilla Lightsey | Founder
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