Hello SWAM Families and Instructors,
Last week we had the opportunity to connect with Jared Den Otter, a member of the Queen’s Happy Soul Project Club. The Queen’s Happy Soul Project is a club affiliated with the Happy Soul Project that started to provide support and encouragement to persons and families with disabilities, terminal illnesses or vast differences by advocating for inclusivity to eliminate prejudice and discrimination. The Happy Soul Project Non-Profit Organization is about inspiring change, celebrating differences and helping others.
Jared mentioned a few initiatives and campaigns during his Community Outreach time with SWAM. These include:
1. Kick-It Capes for children battling cancer, dealing with terminal illness or accepting a vast difference in their life. These are similar to Superhero capes and many have been given out to kids worldwide.
2. Fundraisers to raise money for kick-it capes and other initiatives that promote inclusivity. Fundraising occurs through selling merchandise (found at www.happysoulproject.org), as well as through events such as the Happy Hair Project which occurred at the Frontenac’s game on Nov.2nd ($1,270 was raised for Kick-It Capes).
3. #DifferentIsBeatiful Campaign where members give school talks, meet with doctors & medical students to challenge society’s perceptions of what having differences or disabilities is like. “What Makes You Different Is What Makes You Beautiful”.
If you’re interested in getting more information or have any questions for Jared please feel free to reach out to him via email: hspc@clubs.queensu.ca
Thank you,
Sabrina Sappal
Director of Community Outreach
P.S. If you know of a club, community group, or initiative that you would like to see at SWAM Kingston. Please send me a message 🙂