A NEW campaign aimed at encouraging thousands of African people with intellectual disabilities to participate in the Special Olympics World Games was discussed in Dublin yesterday.
The initiative, Athletes Advocate for Africa, focuses on encouraging and involving individuals, families, community groups and policymakers in promoting the games to people in Africa living with intellectual disabilities.
According to Special Olympics Ireland, there are 10-15 million African people with an intellectual disability who live in “isolation and social exclusion, with little access to health, education and employment”.
Special Olympics delegates from Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya and South Africa are attending the event alongside colleagues from Italy, Germany and Great Britain to explore how they can achieve the objectives.
The initiative has been supported by the Government’s overseas development division, Irish Aid, which has donated €148,500 towards the campaign.
The Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, said: “This is an important project that will have a positive impact on the lives of those with intellectual disabilities in Africa, who are some of the most marginalised people in society.”
