Eric Wong Hok-pan has a deep passion for buses. He knows many of Hong Kong’s routes and can identify the production year of specific models. Among his favorite hobbies is photographing vintage buses, especially those from the late 1990s. On his smartphone, he proudly showcases his vast collection of bus photos. However, a recent incident of bullying by a group of teenagers while he was photographing buses left him shaken. Wong, who has Down’s syndrome, struggled with the emotional toll and turned to the Love 21 Foundation for support.
Love 21, a Hong Kong-based charity, provides holistic care for individuals with Down’s syndrome and autism through sports, nutrition, and mental health programs. Wong has been a member since age 20 and visits the centre most afternoons after work. He lives with his family and spends his mornings packing incense before heading to San Po Kong for a range of activities offered by Love 21, from boxing and cooking to dancing and dragon boating.
To help him recover from the recent trauma, Wong began attending counselling sessions at the foundation. Love 21 founder Jeff Rotmeyer explains that the organisation offers over 700 healthy activities monthly, with plans to double that by year-end. Their model focuses on empowerment and pushing beyond low societal expectations for neurodiverse individuals. Rotmeyer believes these communities deserve the same opportunities to thrive and succeed.
Their recent health and fitness programme resulted in over 378kg of fat loss and 305kg of muscle gain among 117 members. Wong especially enjoys Zumba classes and will soon showcase his dance skills at Disco Diverso, a nightclub event designed to promote inclusion and give neurodiverse adults the chance to enjoy a night out like anyone else.
From July, the foundation will begin offering free applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy, a scientifically supported method to help children with autism improve their behaviours and social skills. Typically unaffordable for many, the therapy will be available at no cost to Love 21’s 550 supported families, 70 percent of which are single-mother households.
Rotmeyer emphasises the need for inclusive, affordable care in a city where wealth often determines access. Through counselling, workshops, and peer support, Love 21 also empowers parents like Wong’s mother, Amy Chung, who regularly participates in sessions with her son. Their day recently ended with a special treat – tickets to a Cirque du Soleil performance – and a bus ride, of course.
READ MORE: