Born with Down Syndrome and as an orphan, Jaffe was first referred to r é n by the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association. For many with special needs like him, finding both a familial support structure and a sense of purpose is immensely important, and so it became a priority for us not only to find Jaffe an employment opportunity, but also an environment where he feels comfortable, confident, and loved.

Earlier last year, we explored the option with The Coffee Academics, where Jaffe worked briefly in packaging. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a perfect fit for Jaffe, who preferred something that allowed him to move around more, so our search continued. The efforts paid off, and this summer, the Ladies’ Recreation Club welcomed Jaffe into their team as their new cleaner at the beginning of July.

“We were approached by r é n during an event where we learned about their programme for supporting disadvantaged young people in Hong Kong by providing job opportunities in exclusive kitchens and beyond,” LRC’s general manager Kurt Walter recalls. “While we previously partnered directly with various NGOs, we found that r é n, with its extensive network, was a suitable and reliable partner to help with candidate matching. Inclusion and diversity have always been core values of the LRC.”

Now, three months on, Jaffe has found not only a sense of purpose in his daily life, but also an environment he can call home, with many of those on his housekeeping team becoming familial figures for him.

“Initially, Jaffe was a bit shy, but the supportive environment and job satisfaction helped him integrate smoothly into our community,” Kurt tells us. “Our staff have been attentive, ensuring Jaffe receives the guidance and support he needs. He affectionately refers to his housekeeping colleagues as “mom” or “sisters” because of the care they show him. Jaffe is warm and caring; he even remembers his colleagues’ preferences and offers them coffee in the mornings. It’s truly heartwarming.”

This new support structure Jaffe now enjoys at LRC has truly allowed him to find his potential as a contributing member, and his work has been exceptional, Kurt continues. “Jaffe excels at routine tasks, executing them with precision and dedication,” the general manager says. “Our staff’s efforts in supporting Jaffe have truly been rewarding, helping him reach his full potential.”

With the success of Jaffe’s integration into the LRC family, r é n is continuing to extend our efforts in finding the disadvantaged and underprivileged an opportunity at LRC, working closely with the Kurt, the club, and his team, to create new homes and families for those in need. “We’ll continue to actively engage with our NGO partners and remain open to new ideas,” Kurt says, looking into the future. “It has been a pleasure collaborating with r é n. Many more opportunities to come, I believe!”