Jo Hull, the head coach and performance manager of the Hong Kong national women’s fifteens rugby team, is seeking donations of used sports bras for a charity trip to Zambia in Southern Africa.
Hull will be going on a one-week trip next month to coach young underprivileged girls – many of whom are orphans – for Tag Rugby Trust, a British charity that “uses rugby as a vehicle to build futures by providing relevant and challenging opportunities for children and adults” in developing countries.
(Full disclosure: I am a member of the national rugby training squad and Hull is my coach.)
Hull went to Zambia with the same charity last year and decided to go again this year.
“I believe the power of rugby can hugely promote self-esteem and the feeling of empowerment in young females,” Hull told Coconuts HK.
“Rugby is like no other sport in that there is a place for everyone,” Hull said, adding that it’s an opportunity for women to break down gender norms and stereotypes.
Hull is hoping to take as many donated sports bras with her a Zambia as she can, and is asking Coconauts for help.
“The key thing is to educate them about looking after themselves, such as wearing the correct protective clothing (like sports bras),” Hull explained. Many of the girls are dealing with communicable diseases like malaria or HIV/AIDS.
Hull hopes to encourage confidence and empowerment through rugby.
Most of the charity’s beneficiaries don’t have the means or access to buy such kit, but Hull says it doesn’t stop the children from hitting the pitch.
“Many of the young kids play in bare feet and have no material belongings to their name. Somehow it doesn’t even seem to come across their mind as an issue, and I find it very humbling,” Hull said
Please drop off your used or new sports bras – or women’s rugby kit – at the following collection points by Feb. 23:
Causeway Bay (Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm): Hong Kong Rugby Union, Room 2001, Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po. (Google Maps)
Wan Chai (Mon-Fri, 6am – 9pm; Sat-Sun, 8am-3pm): Pinnacle Performance, 7/F, Morrison Plaza, 9 Morrison Hill Road. (Google Maps)
Central (Mon-Thurs, 10:30am-6:30pm; Fri-Sat, 9:30am-11:30am): Barre2Barre, 4/F Cheung Hing Commercial Building, 37 Cochrane Street. (Google Maps)
Please email us if you have any questions or would like to drop off your donations at the Coconuts office in Sheung Wan.
