壁需帮 - Shape the Future Sports
Junior Squash Charity Platform Created by China's Gen Z
Beginning
In winter 2024, my friend Jeff shared a video from a Kenyan coach asking for help. Seeing the worn squash court and young players' rackets, I joined him to support these athletes and pursue a personal goal.
Process
To gather funds and secondhand racquets, shoes, and quick-dry clothing, we have decided to host events in early 2025. These aim to raise awareness and promote squash to a broader audience. The event included exhibition matches, and I encouraged kids to try squash.
Since organizing events alone didn't attract large crowds, we planned a charity sale for the May squash tournament to keep the initiative moving. Over two months, we discussed plans and designed products. By the five-day tournament's end, we had gathered enough supplies—shipped from Beijing to Shanghai—and started packing. We collected 56 pairs of shoes, 119 quick-dried shirts, and 52 rackets.
To ensure the project's sustainability, I traveled from Shanghai to Hong Kong and handed over leadership to Cameron Cassidy, who oversees the Sierra Leone project in Hong Kong. We discussed our successful Kenya project and wished them a smooth Hong Kong initiative. Moving forward, we aim to expand this program internationally, allowing more young athletes to benefit.
Outcome
In July 2025, the rackets, shoes and quick-dried shirts from Beijing to Shanghai reached Kenyan peers. As children opened the packages, their eyes lit up, realizing they too could have sporting dreams unblocked by material scarcity.
"Life is like squash, every rebound is a new opportunity."
