TEEN SPIRIT
f you ever need a pick-me-up,
head to One Ten’s website.
You’ll be greeted by enormous
block capitals declaring “Make
Your Mark.” Scroll down and
“Find Your Strength” pops up.
Just beneath that, “Become
A Warrior” is emblazoned in bright orange
letters. But these aren’t cutesy quotes off
Instagram or chapter headings from Eat,
Pray, Love. They’re carefully crafted phrases
written with one specific purpose in mind—
to get young people moving.
One Ten is an organisation offering
motivational and fun exercise classes to young
people in Hong Kong. As well as providing
all the physical benefits of gym lessons, One
Ten classes are designed specially to help
teenagers tackle the stresses and strains of
everyday life, whether exam pressure, issues
at home or anxiety caused by the pervasive,
all-encompassing reach of social media.
Belinda Koo and Ada Cheung—One
Ten’s founder and programme director,
respectively—are well aware how many
young people need help. Ada, who is studying
for a master’s degree in social work, says that
among teenagers, “anxiety, academic stresses,
depressive symptoms, body consciousness,
self-esteem issues and even suicidal attempts
are part of a reality that we can no longer
ignore. Between 2014 and 2016, over 70
suicides were reported across primary,
secondary and post-secondary institutions.”
“The problems affecting teenagers disturb
me,” says Belinda, a mother of three, two of
whom are now in their early teens. “I’m very
concerned about what makes an adult, what
makes a person have the perseverance to go
through all the tough times? How can we
strengthen that warrior mindset in order to
help people power through the tough times
and unravel the knots inside their mind?”
And that, in a nutshell, is where their
organisation comes in. “One Ten is all about
having that little extra grit—we want to
help young people find it,” Belinda says. It’s
also the inspiration behind the organisation’s
name. “We want young people to beBelinda Koo and Ada Cheung are turning their passion for fitness
into a force for good. They tell Oliver Giles about One Ten, their
new social enterpriseLIFE | PHILANTHROPY
ecstatically surprised that they can give 110
per cent,” adds Ada.
Belinda is the founder of XYZ, Hong Kong’s
most luxurious indoor cycling studio, and
Ada is an XYZ instructor, so they’ve both
experienced the positive effects of exercise
first-hand. “Physical exercise helped my
perseverance,” Belinda says. “One Ten classes
are about giving teenagers a safe zone where
they can stretch themselves a little bit. They
can then use the same mindset when it comes
to problems in life. They can think, ‘I powered
through when I was doing that physical
workout—I can do it again now.’”
All One Ten lessons take place at leading
exercise studios but are offered at vastly
reduced rates or, for teenagers who access
classes through One Ten’s charity partners, for
free. From this month, classes will be focused
on spinning, high-intensity interval training
and yoga.
Belinda was partly encouraged to establish
One Ten by her work as a fellow of the
Aspen Institute, an international think
tank that helps influencers create change in
their community. “My mentor at the Aspen
Institute recommended that I should look
at something I’m doing currently and then
stretch it,” she recalls.
“But instead of pointing fingers about an
issue, you turn the mirror to yourself and
say, ‘What can I do to change it?’” Given that
she runs XYZ, it was a no-brainer for Belinda
to combine her passion for fitness with an
initiative to empower teenagers.
Although Belinda and Ada shared the same
vision, they were initially uncertain how keen
others would be to get involved. But they’ve
been overwhelmed with offers of support
and are now busy building a network of
caring trainers who will host One Ten classes
around Hong Kong.
“If you have a mission that is good
and selfless, doors keep opening,” says
Ada. “It doesn’t stop. It’s because it’s not
competitive—we all want to help young
adults thrive.”For more information, visit weareoneten.org
hong kong tatler. september 2017 233