Special Olympics Africa

Loretta Claiborne says that Special Olympics gave her a new sense of herself, like she put her old identity down and picked up a new one. In my podcast “Need A Lift?”, she compared it to pants shopping– trying on pair after pair, none of them fitting. “And then all of a sudden, you see another pair in the pile, and you get up and say, ‘Oh, this is me.’” Listen to more of my conversation with Loretta on, “Need A Lift?” wherever you listen to podcasts. https://brnw.ch/21wO6mw #FrontRowToHope

"They met, they played, and they celebrated everybody's gift." My mother had one goal "I just wanted to teach children how to swim." This sentiment resonates with anyone who longs for connection and the opportunity to be seen. How will you make a difference? Join us in our movement and #ChooseToInclude by getting involved today: https://lnkd.in/geHU3z_b To watch my full acceptance address at the Theophano Foundation Empress Theophano Prize ceremony: https://lnkd.in/gc_RSm-y #EmpressTheophanoPrize

The award ceremony is streaming live now! Tune in: https://www.theophano.eu

We're #hiring a new Senior Manager, Organizational Development and Sports in Ghana. Apply today or share this post with your network.

The Special Olympics community around the world is heartbroken to learn of the death of our friend, role model, and international board member, Dikembe Mutombo. Dikembe traveled the world for our movement, and whether in Japan, China, South Africa, or the USA, he brought a joy for life, a love of sport, and a profound belief in the greatness of #SpecialOlympics athletes. He was more than a Hall of Fame basketball ball player: he was a Hall of Fame humanitarian. Our prayers are with Rose, his children, and all who loved him.

🌍 Day 3 of the UCS Workshop in Rwanda: Financial Accountability and Strategic Planning 🌍 Today, Tanyaradzwa Shanitah Nzvengende (MSc) kicked off the workshop with a session focused on building the capacity of Program leaders to improve financial management and accountability in their Programs. Our goal is to equip Programs with the skills and tools needed to enhance accountability and prudent management of grants and other funds raised by the Program. This was followed by a session on Government Relations and Coalition where Susan Masila aimed to strengthen the capacity of Programs to build strategic partnerships with their ministries of education and other relevant government agencies. Delegates will now have increased capacity to implement sustainable UCS programming. Haylie Wrubel (Bernacki) wrapped up the day with a session on Leaders Roles and Responsibility; Technical Support; Sustainability Plan: We provided a comprehensive overview of the key aspects needed to successfully launch and sustain UCS. Our desired outcome is to ensure Programs understand the support available and create a plan that leads to a successful launch and sustainability of UCS. Planning: SO Program staff began charting their plans for 2025. After the session, Program staff will have initial plans for 2025 to take with them as they complete their official documents. Closing Ceremony: We summarized and closed the events of the Hub of Excellence UCS workshop with a call to action to grow and sustain UCS globally. All participants felt a sense of achievement and are poised to continue the great work of expanding UCS globally. A big thank you to SOA and SO Rwanda for hosting and planning the workshop. Looking forward to more impactful sessions and collaborations in the future! #UCSWorkshop #FinancialAccountability #StrategicPlanning #SustainablePrograms #GlobalImpact #SpecialOlympics

🏀 Day 2 of the Unified Championship Schools (UCS) Workshop in Rwanda was a slam dunk! We had an incredible Basketball clinic with superstars and an exciting unified competition. The energy and teamwork were off the charts! Stay tuned for more amazing moments. #UCSWorkshop #BasketballClinic #UnifiedCompetition #Rwanda2024 #SpecialOlympics #ChooseToInclude

Day 1 of the UCS Workshop in Rwanda was a success! From insightful sessions to engaging discussions, we are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and collaboration. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to innovate and drive impactful initiatives. #UCSWorkshop #Innovation #Collaboration #Rwanda2024 #specialolympics #ChooseToInclude

🌟 *Day 2 Highlights from the Unified Champion Schools Conference!* 🌟 Today, we witnessed an inspiring display of talent and inclusivity at the Unified Basketball Clinic hosted by Special Olympics Rwanda (SOR) at Lycée de Kigali. This event showcased the incredible skills and enthusiasm of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, breaking barriers and fostering a spirit of unity and collaboration. The honoured guest at the workshop was Mrs. Nelly Mukazayire, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports. She stated that the ministry and the Rwandan government fully support this workshop, which aims to foster the exchange of ideas. Under the guidance of Moise Mutokambali, National Technical Director, and grassroots coaches from the Rwanda Basketball Federation, participants learned fundamental basketball skills and celebrated the joy of the game. The clinic was a testament to the power of sports in promoting inclusion and creating lasting friendships. A special thank you to all the organizers and supporters, including the Ministry of Sports and His Highness Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for their unwavering commitment to inclusive sports. Let's continue to champion inclusivity and excellence in all our endeavours! 🏀 Read more about this inspiring event (https://lnkd.in/dgBk6BkZ). #Inclusion #UnifiedSports #SpecialOlympics #Basketball #ExcellenceInAction