Exciting Summer for HOPE
SUMMER CAMP FUN
It was another successful and fun-filled summer at HOPE’s summer camps! We served 32 children, both special needs and typically developing, from the Beijing community and Bethel Foster Home. With our week long camp for typically developing children we were able to raise funds for care of the horses and needed equipment. Below are pictures from this year’s camps crafts, homemade meals, and of course, therapeutic horse rides!
Learning to ride on Li the fabulous Swedish Pony.
We of course could not talk about the success of the summer camps without thanking our wonderful volunteers! We are overwhelmed with the generosity of these individuals. We had five volunteers who traveled from outside of Beijing to assist and an additional twenty-five from the local area. Saige Simmons and Angela Bauman traveled from Texas, and Remy Lepore flew from Colorado! While two wonderful Chinese students joined us for a week and a half during their summer break. Priscilla and Luna could not have done it without all their energy and talent!
Despite the heat, humidity, and the rain that plagued the camps for several days the children and parents alike felt the benefits of the camp, and four new children have enrolled for continued horse therapy sessions in the fall!
Painting t-shirts to take home during Summer Camp Group Activity.
Students loved learning to care for the horses.
Making friends at camp. These volunteers traveled from southern China to help!
Growing HOPE
While not running the HOPE Summer Camps Priscilla was busy growing HOPE and the equestrian therapy community. Firstly, HOPE welcomed is newest member—a Chinese draft mare named Muer (沐儿）. A fun fact about her is she briefly stars in the upcoming film collaboration (the first ever!) between Hollywood and the Chinese film industry called The Great Wall! Because of her substantial size HOPE will now be able to treat larger riders with equestrian therapy.
Our new horse Muer at the end of training session with Xiao Zhao & Saige.
Secondly, Priscilla was on the hunt for new stable space to accommodate HOPE’s growth. She visited no less than four stables and Luna is currently working with one to secure an agreement.Luna is also currently collaborating with six international schools* in Beijing to secure volunteers year around to help HOPE grow. We are eager to meet our newest volunteers in the fall!
Children and parents from HOPE, volunteers from US, Bethel residents and Qu Laoshi, and HKJC members at the Hong Kong Jockey Club in Beijing.
If you are reading this, then you most likely know Priscilla, and while it seems quite impossible, she accomplished even more this summer in Beijing. She met with the Beijing Turf and Equestrian Association (BTEA), the largest horse association in Beijing, to develop a Therapeutic Horsemanship educational program. The first classes are tentatively scheduled for next June! In addition, Priscilla presented her work and HOPE’s mission at the Beijing chapter of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). The organization is inspired by HOPE’s vision and are exploring the possibility of a partnership to help reach more children!
* International School of Beijing, Western Academy of Beijing, Dulwich College, British School of Beijing, Beanstalk Bilingual International School, and Beijing World Youth Academy
Thank You to Our Newest Donors
All of this has been made possible by our newest donors. We want to acknowledge and thank Mr. Jim Zhang, who is with the HKJC, and has made a generous individual donation enabling us to by our new horse!Also we would like to acknowledge and thank an anonymous donor. Both donors have made an unbelievable impact on HOPE.
How You Can Help
With the help of our newest supporters HOPE has been able to grow this year,however, we are always in need of donations for the care of our horses, employees, volunteers, and patients. If you wish to contribute towards this care please click here. Your small recurring monthly donations can make a big impact! Just check “Make this Recurring” for easy monthly contribution.