On Friday, June 14, at the M-Hotel in Kigali, SOR convened representatives from educational institutions, sports bodies, and various NGOs with the objective of illuminating the organization’s activities and soliciting their full cooperation in extending assistance to children with intellectual disabilities.
During the meeting, the concept of Unified Champion Schools (UCS) was explained, showcasing the impact it has had on the 210 schools across the country that have been involved in the program. Witnessing the program’s impact, participants demonstrated their eagerness to bolster the organization’s efforts in promoting inclusivity within school environments.
Florent Habyarimana, a delegate from the Ministry of Sports, commended the ongoing work of Special Olympics Rwanda and pledged to advocate for continued support for the athletes.
He said, “I’ve had the privilege of attending Special Olympics Rwanda activities, and it’s given me a firsthand understanding of their potential. Remarkably, it’s the sports for individuals with disabilities that consistently bring home major awards in our country.”
Habyarimana added, “It’s crucial that we rally behind them, and I’m dedicated to continuing my advocacy efforts within the Ministry of Sports to ensure they receive the sustained support necessary for their competitions.”
A broad spectrum of participants attended the meeting, reflecting diverse sectors such as the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education, Rwanda School Sports Federation, EKITABU, VSO, USAID Tunoze Gusoma, FERWAFA, UNESCO, Tubiteho, and IEE Humanity & Inclusion. Their collective presence symbolized a unified effort to promote the well-being of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Every institution committed to supporting this noble cause, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing the welfare of people with ID in Rwanda.
Rwanda has made substantial progress in the way society treats individuals with intellectual disabilities, moving from exclusion to segregation, then advancing from segregation to integration, and finally adopting a government-led policy of inclusion not only in education but also in society.
Since its establishment in 2002, Special Olympics Rwanda (SOR), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting physical fitness, organizing sports activities, and facilitating competitions among athletes with intellectual disabilities, has yielded positive outcomes. People with intellectual disabilities are moving away from isolation towards living in a truly unified, harmonious, and socially inclusive society.
Through the Unified Champion Schools project launched four years ago, SOR has been instrumental in promoting social inclusion, leading to system-wide changes such as inclusive young leadership, increased awareness throughout schools, and the promotion of inclusive sports.
In the realm of sports, SOR has surpassed expectations by training athletes who have even won medals on a global scale. Bruce Cyemayire, an athlete representative who attended the symposium, shared his sporting journey from 2022 to achieving fifth place at the World Games.
“I began my Bocce career in 2022, achieving success at the school level and progressing to national success. I was then selected to represent Rwanda at the 2023 World Games in Germany, where I achieved fifth place.”
Bruce expressed gratitude to Special Olympics Rwanda and Autism Rwanda for their invaluable support throughout his journey, spanning from local to international levels.
Speaking with Pastor Deus Sangwa, the board chairman of SOR, at the symposium’s conclusion, he emphasized the importance of seeking additional partners to continue the positive work of UCS by engaging stakeholders.
Pastor Sangwa said, “We reached out to various educational institutions, sports bodies, NGOs, and federations to showcase the sports initiatives we’ve undertaken, particularly our work with the Unified Champion Schools project over the past four years.”
“This symposium served as a platform to involve additional partners, foster engagement, and illustrate our activities, with the goal of finding opportunities for collaboration rather than pursuing separate endeavors,” added Pastor Sangwa.
At the recently concluded symposium, SOR presented its objectives for the forthcoming years to participants. Their plans include expanding their operations from the existing 23 districts to cover all districts in the country. Furthermore, they aim to increase athlete registration from 18,100 to 20,000, coaches from 2,467 to 2,500, and families engaged from 1,129 to 4,500.
