Unlocking the Potential of Inclusion Through Unified Champion Schools in Rwanda
Special Olympics Rwanda champions youth leadership to promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities through the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed
KIGALI, RWANDA — <25 November, 2022> — A landmark partnership between Special Olympics Rwanda and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be celebrated at a Youth Leadership Summit at Room M1, Kigali Convention Centre on 25 November, 2022. Over 100 delegates will attend, including youth with and without intellectual disabilities, government representatives and visiting delegations from around Africa.
Thanks to the inclusive vision of its government, Rwanda is the first and currently the only country in Africa Region to receive this grant, which has been in existence since 2020 and runs until 2023. The collaboration between Special Olympics International and HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN, the President of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, launched the Unified Champions School (UCS) project initiative in six selected countries: Argentina, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Romania and Rwanda.
The theme of the Youth Summit is “Unlocking the Potential of Inclusion through Unified Champion Schools”, for youth with and without intellectual disabilities from primary schools, secondary schools and universities. Special Olympics Rwanda will also be sharing its best practices of the UCS project with visiting delegations from other African countries, including Special Olympics Malawi and Special Olympics Nigeria. Guests and panellists will include representatives from the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, UNESCO Eastern Africa Regional Office and UNICEF, and family members of persons with intellectual disabilities.
“Special Olympics Rwanda is extremely proud to host this project, and to share its experiences and activities at this Youth Summit. Unified Champions Schools has had a great impact in the Program communities, both directly and indirectly, and we are glad to be sharing our practices,” said Pastor Sangwa Deus, Chair of Special Olympics Rwanda.
“Special Olympics and the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi entered a partnership to grow Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (UCS) around the world as part of the 2019 Special Olympics World Games legacy”, added Charles Nyambe, Regional President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Africa Region. “A critical element for this global expansion was empowering a select group of Programs to adapt the UCS programming model for their local context and opportunities, and serve as a model for UCS implementation to other Programs in their Region and around the world. Special Olympics Rwanda was selected as a global leader, out of over 190 eligible countries where accredited Special Olympics Programs exist.”
Unified Champion Schools
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change, through inclusive youth leadership, whole school awareness, and inclusive sports. Special Olympics Unified Sports® are an integral part of UCS as a tool proven to build tolerance and inclusion in schools, and is supported by a global network of sports federations and global sponsors. Whole school engagement will be displayed at Tubiteho Special Center in Gahanga, on 24 November from 9am — 12pm. Unified Bocce (bowls) will be on display between athletes and delegation members from Special Olympics Africa Region.
Expanding Opportunities for Youth
Special Olympics Rwanda provides youth of all abilities with activities and training sessions that stimulate both their personal and professional growth. Special Olympics Rwanda has now provided training to hundreds of teachers and coaches in Unified Schools and Unified Sports® management, expanding the reach of Special Olympics programming and reaching previously un-served athletes with intellectual disabilities. Since 2020, the support of HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN for this project has made the following achievements possible:
· 4 Districts. Special Olympics Rwanda has implemented this project in the City of Kigali, Eastern, Northern and Western Provinces.
· 170 schools. In cooperation with the Districts, Special Olympics Rwanda have recruited 170 schools (40, 70, 25 and 25 schools respectively).
· 340 teachers and coaches. By training both a representative teacher and a coach from each school, 340 education specialists in Rwanda have been equipped with Unified Champion Schools tools and knowledge about sports for people with intellectual disabilities.
· 110 sports kits. In addition to knowledge about sports for people with intellectual disabilities, 110 have already received Unified Sports® kits which include 15 football jerseys, 9 athletics jerseys, 5 bocce jerseys, 2 footballs, 10 corners, 2 whistles, 1 stopwatch and a 1 box of bocce balls. All 170 schools are scheduled to receive their sports kit before the year ends.
· 300 Active Holiday balls. Special Olympics Rwanda cooperated with the Ministry of Education Active Holidays Sport Equipment in the “Active Holiday” initiative, which brought together students of all abilities on summer holiday to socialize and play games in a supportive environment, with a donation of 200 footballs and 100 basketballs.
· 4 Kigali Car Free Days. Kigali Car Free Day is a sports event that takes place on every first and third Sunday of the month, where roads are closed for motorized vehicles and used only for walking and cycling. Special Olympics Rwanda has been able to support people with Intellectual disabilities also participate in this sport for the first time. Since this project started, this event has been organized four times with our athletes participating.
· 1 Awareness Campaign. Special Olympics Rwanda held a colorful event animated by athletes, family members and volunteers at the main Down Town Bus Station, aimed at promoting people with intellectual disabilities from isolation.
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools: Global Expansion
In 2020, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the U.A.E. Ruler of Abu Dhabi, granted Special Olympics a transformational US$25 million gift to establish the Abu Dhabi-based Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education and the growth and development of Unified Champions School (UCS). Currently the grant has created UCS in six countries, including Rwanda, with expansion to 17 total countries by January 2023. The generosity of His Highness, has now created 577 new schools, impacting more than 411,000 youth, and training over 4,000 coaches and teacher.
“We are trusting our hopes to young inclusive leaders who see beyond division and fear and show us how to heal and unite. I am deeply grateful that His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has made an extraordinary commitment to our athletes and their Unified partners in Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools,” said Timothy Shriver, Chair of Special Olympics International.
Since 2020, Special Olympics’ efforts have had a significant impact on both policy agendas and individual mindsets, and community members are increasingly seeing people with intellectual disabilities for who they are.
ENDS
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About Special Olympics Rwanda
Special Olympics Rwanda is a nongovernmental organization accredited by Special Olympics International since 2003, with a mission stating that: “To provide year-round sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience, joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With more than six million athletes and Unified Sports partners in over 190 countries and territories and more than one million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions every year. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 November 2022
Contact:
John Bosco Muhamyangabo
UCS Project Manager
Tel: +250 788 64 635
Email: jbmuhamyangabo@gmail.com
