Week 9 winner.

This weeks winner is Anna Ollinger from Chicago, IL. Congrats!

Week 8 Winner: Joshua Myles

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Australia

Owen & Jurgen have been Best Buddies since 2008. Their favorite activities together are going to the movies together, shopping and visiting each other at one another’s homes. Jurgen often makes the decisions about where the two go for their outings. Sometimes the two meet in the city to travel by train and by meeting up so often Jurgen has found that he’s been adept at using public transport around different parts of Sydney.

The friendship has become so close that Jurgen describes Owen as like “an elder brother to me,” although he has both an older and younger brother.

Jurgen’s father, Patrick said he was delighted with the boys’ friendship; ‘Jurgen has mild autism and sometimes has trouble expressing himself verbally. It’s not always easy for him to make friends. I’m happy for people to know about the (Best Buddies) program because it is so good.”

Owen himself says “Jurgen is the kindest friend I have ever had, he’s a great person.”

About the program Owen says “A lot of the time people from mainstream (school) make fun of people in the support unit and it’s not very fair. So to help people get a few more friends and just sort of break that barrier I thought I should join Best Buddies.

“Don’t be afraid to join the program. It’s just a good thing to do. You’ll meet someone that you’ve got a true friendship with. It’s not like something that you’re forced to do…when you get into the program you’re really just paired up with a nice person. I don’t know anyone from the program that doesn’t just want to be a friend.“

Produced in conjunction with interview material courtesy of Monica Heary (Don’t DISmyABILITY.com.au) and Deborah Hutton (Best Buddies Ambassador)

Week 7 winner.

The winner of this week’s contest is Shibu Rajendran from United Arab Emirates. Congrats to Shibu!

Week 7: What is your favorite activity to do with your Best Buddy?

The theme for this week’s contest is: “What is your favorite activity to do with your Best Buddy?”

For more information Click Here

Mexico

Best Buddies Mexico was launched in 2003 with one chapter.  Seven years later, BB Mexico boasts 34 College and 7 High School Chapters as well as Citizens matches in 8 cities with over 550 matches and over 1,150 volunteers.

Below is a testimonial from Jorge Sierra & Adrian Hernandez, a buddy pair since August 2008.

Adrian and I have been part of Best Buddies México since August 2008.  Although I knew him before at Unidos, I never imagined that we were going to have such a great friendship like the one we have now thanks to Best Buddies.

Since we became Buddies, we have connected at least once a week. After all the experiences we have shared over our two years as Buddies, I have never forgotten to be thankful and to enjoy. We have shared many special moments.  Our first activity together was a pajama party!  Since then I have taken him to a visit my University to meet my friends and let them share a little bit of this experience. One great memory I have is a trip we made to a comic convention where we had a cartoon made of us.  We laughed so hard about it, it hurt.

In December, Adrian and Joaquin (Adrian’s brother) invited me to a High School Musical play in which they participated.  I had classes and it was difficult for me to go but I couldn’t resist it, so I skipped class and went to see them anyway.  It was worth it. They were incredible and at the end Adrian said in the microphone to the whole audience, “I love you mom, dad and Jorge.”  Wow!  I felt so good; I couldn’t believe how important I was to him.

Thanks to Best Buddies I had the opportunity to know Adrian and his family, but this relationship has gone beyond the connection and commitment of the program.  With enormous pride I dare to say that I have met my second family, and I love them very much. I know that I can count on them always and I’ll do anything to help them if they need it. Adrian, his family and this experience are really the best things that have happened to me. At almost two years of this friendship, Adrian and I have almost experienced everything together. I have even stayed to sleep at his house sometimes, although Adrian would like that I stay there permanently. There is no day that I don’t learn or experience new things in everything we do.
 
Thanks very much to Best Buddies and everyone to make this experience possible and given me the chance to know Adrian; it has truly transformed my life.
 
Jorge Fernando Sierra Lopez

Week 6 winner: Katie Thompson

Congrats to Katie Thompson from Illinois for being this weeks winner. Click here to check out her images of Abilities in Action.

Week 6: Abilities in Action

This week is a picture contest – upload your image that shows us how Best Buddies has you working for Friendship.

For more information, please click here

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Best Buddies International

The mission of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.