A launching ceremony of the shelter workshop for teenagers with Down syndrome was held in Reed’s Home in Jiangsu Province.
On the eve of the tenth World Down Syndrome Day which falls on March 21, a public welfare activity titled “Taking Snails for a Walk - Caring for the Mentally Disabled” was conducted in the Volunteer Service Center of Reed’s Home, Zhenjiang
At the ceremony, one volunteer of the center briefly introduced the relevant background of Down syndrome, and the original intention and preparations of the shelter workshop.
Subsequently, a representative of the female red group of the Cheongsam (Qipao) Salon in Zhenjiang came to the stage to donate the first start-up funds for the workshop.
Immediately afterward, the local parents of Down syndrome victims took to the stage to give a speech, expressing gratitude to participants from all walks of life, and appealing to the public to pay attention to children with Down syndrome and their families.
Subsequently, the art performances of the Female Red Group from Cheongsam Salon and the protagonists of the event (the children with Down syndrome) brought the whole activity to a climax.
After the launching ceremony, the disabled children, accompanied by volunteers and caring people, went to the event hall to participate in the handcrafted sachet-making activities. They finished in a short while and the proceeds from the charity sale of those handmade sachets would be used as public welfare funds for the shelter workshop.
According to Brother Cao, the head of the Reed’s Home, this charity event aimed to demonstrate that children with the disease could achieve effective social participation through barrier-free communication. Through the welfare activity, they wanted the public to know, accept and care for this special group, helping these children better integrate into society, return to mainstream education and society.
(The original article is published by Gospel Times)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
