KOWLOON CARES
ABOUT KOWLOON CARES
We believe the club is only as strong as it's community, and our home is Kowloon. As such, we support the Kowloon community through our outreach program, "Kowloon Cares" ensuring our values and the rugby values shine through on and off the field.
The initiatives within our "Kowloon Cares" umbrella are supported by the Kowloon Nine Dragons, our club's outreach and community fund. These initiatives fall within 4 pillars, these being YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND WELLBEING, INCLUSIVITY, and ENVIROMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY. Implementing these initiatives would not be possible without the generous support of corporates and members of the club.
Youth Development
Environmental & Sustainability
Health &
Wellbeing
Inclusivity
4 PILLARS
YOUTH
The continued success and development of Kowloon Rugby Club is directly linked to our commitment to providing opportunities and pathways. Youth members are encouraged to embrace sport as an avenue to their wider personal development, whilst at all times participating in a fun and safe environment.
Our Youth Development initiatives have an international flavour as we continue to work with partners not only in Hong Kong but also further afield in locations such as the UK (Mount St Marys School) and Laos (Laos Rugby Federation)
Youth Development
Tony Ho Camps (HK/UK)
Established in 2014 by Kowloon members to the memory of former youth player Tony Ho
Through RugbyFest, Kowloon Rugby Club works alongside local charities, Operation Breakthrough and Po Leung Kuk and our own academy to offer opportunities to attend rugby training camps HK and in the UK.
Proceeds raised from RugbyFest have helped to fund over 120 children embark on a trip of a lifetime to the UK for a weeks-long training camp alongside Professional Rugby Union coaches from South Africa and England.
The Tony Ho camp has grown from strength to strength since 2014, with the first-ever Hong Kong camp taking place in the summer of 2019, involving special guest, ex-Scotland International John Barclay.
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
Kowloon Rugby Club is acutely aware of the need to operate in a responsible manner regarding our planet and its environment.
The club makes the upmost effort to be as efficient as possible on matters such as kit production, re-use where possible and material recycling. The club also has launched out-reach projects within the community to increase awareness. Specific projects have included kit collections and clean ups.
In 2024 the club launched a new initiative to clean up the much loved Hong Kong BIG FOUR trails. Over 80 club members teamed up to clean the 100km Maclehose trail collecting 110 bags of rubbish in the process.
Supporting The Development Of Laos Rugby
Since 2011 Kowloon has been supporting the development of Rugby in Laos . This has including assisting with tours to Hong Kong to join the Kowloon RugbyFest , arranging kit collections (Predominantly rugby boots) and shipping with the assistance of DHL , financial donations (Kowloon is currently a SILVER sponsor of the Laos Rugby Federation), and coaching support during COVID with on-line session and sending coaching staff to Laos.
Please click on the link here to see a fantastic documentary showing the preparation and tour to the Kowloon RugbyFest in 2012
HEALTH & WELLBEING
In an ever stressful world Kowloon Rugby Club is committed to promoting a healthy way of life amongst its members and with its community partners and sponsors.
COMMUNITY DAYS
The community engagement days provide access to a wide range of rugby and netball-based games for additional needs children of differing abilities. ‘Kowloon Cares’ works with Love 21, schools and corporates to provide a tailored experience for these students, their siblings and their families. Companies have the ability to sponsor a day as part of their CSR initiatives, helping to fund the program and engage in the delivery of the day by having employees get involved as much as possible.
School students looking to complete service programs (CAS) are also heavily involved in the initiative and harness valuable skills as they learn what it takes to plan and prepare for the delivery of these experiences.
Once you attend one morning event, you will realise this is a gift that gives to everyone involved and will look forward to returning to show you truly care.
‘Kowloon Cares’ will provide:
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A company branded event for between 60 - 100 participants
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Company branded t-shirt and hats
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F&B for all participants
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Travel
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Venue
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Coaches
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Administration
Corporates Provides:
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Banner with logo for event photo, electronic logo and details, for electronic marketing and recognition.
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Provide 10 - 15 staff members to help at the event
For more information on Community Days please contact Kowloon at admin@kowloon-rugby.com
RUOK?
Kowloon Rugby Club has taken a positive approach to raising awareness of mental health issues within the club and wide community. An initiative was started in 2019 with a RUOK (Are you Okay?) campaign.
This was practically activated by producing simple label pin badges with the campaign slogan ‘RUOK?’ as a stimulus for conversations amongst the membership and those associated with the club providing an opportunity to be open to one another regarding any issues.
Kowloon is currently working with the Hong Kong China Rugby organization to look for ways this campaign can be enhanced and provide a safety net for those needing assistance.
INCLUSIVITY
Kowloon Rugby Club is proud to be an active member of society treating all people in a fair and equal manner. One of the key “Pillars” in our Kowloon Cares programme is to use our resources to provide activities and opportunities to all parts of our society.
Our outreach initiatives include working with local schools and charities as well as creating our own inhouse projects.
Over the last 10 years, Kowloon has coordinated Community Days by partnering with local Hong Kong Schools and organizations. These days provide a day of games, assault courses, laughs food and souvenirs for the participants.
Community Days are coordinated in partnership with our main club sponsors or with specific event sponsors who are encouraged to take an active role in delivering the day programme.
Click here for the highlights of the Community Day.
Community Days
Love21 Foundation
Since 2019, Kowloon Rugby has partnered with Kowloon based charity Love 21 to provide regular sports sessions to its membership. Love21 is dedicated to empowering members within Hong Kong’s Down Syndrome and Autistic community in addition to supporting their families and carers.
Kowloon is proud to be involved with this project not only providing weekly hour-long exercise sessions but also raising funds and raising awareness of the charity’s work.
We firmly believe in the power of sport to unite communities and foster stronger bonds within them.
A program designed to empower sports-loving women who currently work as domestic helpers in our city. Initiated in 2021, the program has successfully brought together over 100 participants, providing them with a welcome respite from their demanding daily responsibilities.
Reducing barriers to accessing sport -the program provides essential resources, including a dedicated playing kit, regular training sessions, and opportunities to participate in both social and competitive tournaments throughout the year.
As noted in a testimonial from Agnes Sordan, one of our program participants and now a true leader in her community: "The regular Sunday training sessions have had an incredible impact on my physical and mental well-being, showing me the positive effects of team sports" This is just one example of the transformative impact your support can have on the lives of these women.
Domestic Helper Touch Rugby
LEARN ENGLISH THROUGH SPORT
The English through Rugby program is a new initiative that aims to improve the physical literacy and English language skills of students in the Kowloon district. The program is offered through the support of corporates that care and is delivered by a team of professional coaches in schools. The program adheres to the well-established HKCR program curriculum and is delivered on a weekly basis for 8-12 weeks. All participants who successfully complete the course are awarded a certificate of completion. Target schools will be those in the Kowloon district where students can't always afford to join after school activities.
The overall aim of both programs is to provide Kowloon based youth an opportunity to engage with others in the community and improve opportunities for everyone to live an active lifestyle.
If you would like to learn more about how you can get involved in these initiatives as a volunteer, corporate partner, or as a school please contact admin@kowloon-rugby.com
Various packages for corporates outlined
English through rugby Coaching courses
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T-shirt
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12 sessions lead by 2 coaches
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Certificate on completion
In 2019 Kowloon launched an initiative to clean the magnificent BIG FOUR Hong Kong trails, these being the MacLehose(100 Km), Wilson (78Km), Hong Kong (50Km) and Lantau (70Km) trails.
Delayed by covid the project finally commenced in January 2024 with over 80 club members, sponsors and friends cleaning up all 10 sections of the MacLehosetrail, removing 111 bags of rubbish. This is now scheduled to be an annual event to be repeated and expanded in January 2025 and onwards.
Click here for the highlights of the Big Four Trail Cleanup.