Over the festive season, we’ll be highlighting some of the organizations and people that give their time and skills to make our city a better place, and looking at what you can do to support them. Spread the spirit of giving these holidays!
In our busy urban lives, staying fit and active is important. Thanks to a team of enthusiastic volunteers, there are now opportunities to do this while helping a good cause too. We talked to Pablo Arriba about Fitness 4 Hope (F4H), the volunteering organization which he founded.
Pablo Arriba (back row, 6th from right) with members of the Fitness 4 Hope team and some of the children they have helped
Tell us about the history of Fitness 4 Hope. How did it start, how has it developed?
Fitness 4 Hope is a non-profit, community project that provides free fitness classes and events in Beijing. Our aim is to promote both physical and mental well-being, whilst at the same time helping local children in need.
What are you doing now, and what are your plans for the future?
F4H started around two years ago with only a handful of participants meeting each week for a boxing class. Since then our community has really grown and we have expanded our weekly class offerings which now include HIIT, Zumba, Yoga as well as Boxing classes for both adults and children. Additionally, we have been able to offer a myriad of events, including women’s self defense workshops, first-aid courses and tennis tournaments to name a few.
How can people get involved? What help do you need, and how can they contact you?
As a form of giving back, at the end of each class or event, participants have the option of donating (through the Tencent system) to our collaborating foundation who we have worked with since day one, Our Learning House. Our Learning House is a small community school in Shunyi that provides quality education and rehabilitation to orphans living with physical disabilities. Donations are completely optional, however, as what we are trying to do is create a culture of giving in which people feel inspired to give back. This can also come in many forms rather than just a monetary donation, such as volunteering with the children, leading one of the F4H classes or assisting the team with logistics such as designs and translations.
We are extremely grateful to all our volunteers, coaches and the gyms who allow us to use their space for free, especially BActive and Warrior One who have supported us from the start. Yet we are continuously looking for additional coaches, companies and gyms to partner up with, so if you are interested in collaborating with us, or you’d simply like to attend one of our classes and/or volunteer with the children then you can contact us through WeChat at Fitness4hope.
Photos: courtesy of Fitness 4 Hope
