2011 Special Olympics

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Special Olympics Annual Report 2011 Special Olympics Annual Report 2011 BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH EDUCATION Unifying Youth In Serbia, people with intellectual disabilities have long been an underserved population. However, Special Olympics Serbia is making major progress toward bringing this group greater acceptance in society. And now they have a new tool that will allow them to reach even more young people both with and without disabilities. Project UNIFY was launched in Serbia in the fall of 2011, along with programs in Austria, Romania, Italy and India, thanks to the generosity of Stephanie and Ray Lane. Currently, education in Serbia is organized into separate mainstream and special education schools. Through Project UNIFY, Special Olympics Serbia will have more access to the education system and will help drive opportunities for the social inclusion of young people with At the core of Project UNIFY are Youth Activation Committees— youth-led groups that are empowered to advise, direct and implement Project UNIFY activities. For Luka Kurkubic and Filip Paunovic, who have been involved in Special Olympics Serbia for the past four years, becoming youth leaders was a natural fit. The two play together on a Unified basketball team where they say differences disappear and no one is better than another. Off the court they are fast friends and a great representation of how inclusion can change lives. “He is probably the most positive person I have ever met,” said Luka of athlete Filip. “Around him I never feel bad or nervous. With his great personality, that is not possible.” 20 intellectual disabilities in local communities. Throughout 2012, Special 21 The challenges young people face today are many, from achieving personal and academic success to feeling emotionally and physically healthy and Olympics Serbia plans to roll out programs in 10 cities, reaching teachers and students in 30 schools. READ MORE ON OUR WEB SITE: WWW.SPECIALOLYMPICS.ORG/PROJECTUNIFY safe. These challenges are compounded for youth PHOTOS: (Bottom left) Young people from around the world come together for the Global Youth Activation Summit in Athens. (Bottom right) Students celebrate unity at a school in Lebanon on Eunice Kennedy with intellectual disabilities. In order to create a culture of unity for all people, in 2008 Special Olympics began Project UNIFY—a collaboration between Special Olympics and school communities in the United States to engage young people with and without intellectual disabilities in promoting attitudes and behaviors of acceptance and inclusion. In 2011, the program expanded internationally. Shriver Day. (Opposite) Luka Kurkubic and Filip Paunovic at the World Games in Athens, Greece.
Special Olympics Annual Report 2011 Special Olympics Annual Report 2011 PHOTOS: Our goal is to bring understanding and acceptance to every part of the world, every day of the week. (Top) A boy pledges to end the hurtful use of the R-word. (Bottom) Deemah Wafa, Areen Abusweilem and Raya Al halaby from Special Olympics Jordan meet with actor and Special Olympics Board Member Eddie Barbanell during the Global Youth Activation Summit. TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION IN 2011 Special Olympics education programs are changing attitudes and helping to build more understanding schools and communities. • 66 youth representatives from 30 countries participated in the Global Youth Activation Summit Agents of Change In June, Special Olympics Jordan athlete Areen Abu Sweilem and her partner Raya Al Halabi headed to the sixth Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit in Athens. The Summit provided the more than 100 participants with the resources, skills and innovative ideas needed to be agents of change in their home communities. “He is probably the most positive person I have ever 22 • 2,000 schools actively participated in Project UNIFY across 38 U.S. states —a program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education • 425,000 youth engaged in Project UNIFY in the U.S. • 74% of participating students in the U.S. said Project UNIFY was a positive turning point • 7,000 people came out to the Global Youth Rally in Athens as part of the Global Youth Activation Summit • 32 Programs in 26 countries received Mattel Children’s Foundation grants awarded to Global Youth Activation Summit teams to carry out “calls to action” in home countries That is just what Areen and Raya became. When they returned to Jordan, the two saw that many students, teachers and parents felt sorry for people with intellectual disabilities or were afraid of them. In order to change misperceptions, they created the Flame of Unity club, which is now in three schools and is changing attitudes through inclusive activities. Asked if he felt the club was effective, one school representative said, “You see it in the smiles on the students’ faces when they are playing together and hear it in the hallway when a student tells another to stop using the R-word.” READ MORE ON OUR WEB SITE: WWW.R-WORD.ORG met. Around him 23 in their lives • More than 140,000 volunteers between the ages of 12 and 25 took part I never feel bad or nervous. With his great personality, that is not possible.” Luka Kurkubic, Youth Leader PHOTO: (Bottom) Youth leaders Valentina Millares Vargas from Special Olympics Bolivia and Michell Judith Martinez Valdes from Special Olympics Panama present at the Global Youth Activation Summit.
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2011 Special Olympics

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