Sports Carnival 2014
Sports for All, a programme implemented by the British Council to provide special needs children with equal access to high quality physical education (PE) and sports, brought together 98 children and 82 youth volunteers from various organisations in a specially organised Sports Carnival at KLFA Football Centre in Kuala Lumpur on February 22nd, 2014. The half-day event marked the successful completion of last year’s Youth Sports Leadership (YSL) Project which aimed to encourage youth volunteerism via sports activities with special needs children.
Organisations which took part in the Sports Carnival were Essential Associates Sdn. Bhd, Persatuan Kebajikan Sri Eden Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, The Society for the Deaf in Selangor and Federal Territory, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Mesra, Rawang, Selangor, SMK Keningau, Sabah, Children’s World, Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation, Petaling Jaya, Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation, Klang, Pusat Jagaan & LatihanInsan Istimewa IMC and the Perak Association for the Intellectually Disabled.
The carnival saw these organisations work hand in hand with the youth volunteers to conduct physical activities for all participating children. Each of the organisations designed unique games which incorporated the concept of inclusion and the children took turns to play these games. With active engagement and participation of volunteers and children, the carnival featured a special ‘Goalball’ demonstration designed for blind athletes. Other activities included tandem cyclingand golf, as well as games developed using TOPS resources. The Sports Carnival gave the organisations an opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals, parents and teachers, while at the same time sharing the activities that their respective centres have developed.
“To date, many organisations still work in isolation as they seek to assist those with disabilities to live independent and meaningful lives in their communities. With the support of the British Council and assistance in executing the Sports for All programme internally, we have been able to consolidate our efforts to change society’s mindset about children with disabilities. At Pusat Jagaan & Latihan Insan Istimewa IMC, in line with the Youth Sports Leadership Project, we have over 25 youth volunteers assisting us. The children here are receptive to these volunteers and we have noticed a positive change in behaviour as they are more participatory. Our children here are also beginning to interact well with each other due to the small age gap.” - Raaginee Shalesh, Pusat Jagaan & LatihanInsan Istimewa IMC.