Best Buddies International is the largest organization dedicated to advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and ending their isolation. Over the past fifty years, the nonprofit has impacted over a million people with disabilities and thousands of schools, including Langley. The Best Buddies Club at Langley has long been a champion for equality and friendship. 

“The main mission of Best Buddies is to make sure that everyone is equal […] Anyone can do anything they want,” senior and vice president of the Best Buddies club at Langley Sheila Keshavarz said. “Even if they have a disability, they can still get a job. They can still contribute to society. They can still have friends, be a friend.”

The club advocates for people with disabilities in and out of special needs classrooms. Additionally, they hold meetings once a month, in which everyone is included and participates. Their main operation is the peer buddies program, which is a one on one relationship between one person with disabilities and one person without disabilities. 

“Having a peer buddy creates a closer bond. It just makes people feel like they have a friend, which is the most important thing,” Keshavarz said. 

Over the years, the Best Buddies Club has accomplished much in terms of activism. However, one of their most important accomplishments is the cultivation of many friendships. 

“I think the club has accomplished making people feel welcome. I think that anyone who comes to our meetings… feels welcome and feels like they have a friend and everyone belongs there,” Keshavarz said. 

One of the most magical things about the club is the people it attracts. Many of them want to help, want to advocate for equality and inclusivity and above all, want to build connections.

“All my life I’ve just enjoyed helping people, spending time with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And so, I was just internally drawn to Best Buddies,” senior and president of the Best Buddies club Joshua Hyams said.

Hyams was initially the club secretary in his junior year. After talking with some senior officers, he decided he wanted to take a further step in being active and take on a bigger role. As such, he became president. Participating in the club has had a big impact on his personal development. 

“It’s definitely broadened my perspectives on people in general. After interacting with a lot of people with disabilities in the club, I feel like I’ve become more of an open minded person and more understanding,” Hyams said. 

What many of the members highlight is not the club’s general achievements but the warmth and positivity of its atmosphere.

“My favorite part is definitely the people; everyone is super kind. They all want to be there because they want to stand for inclusion and kindness and diversity. Everyone’s going to be a friend there,” Keshavarz said.