#USA #New York #Education Cannot Wait #Special Olympics #Inclusion

Transforming Lives: Education Cannot Wait and Special Olympics Unite

In a significant stride towards promoting inclusion through sports and education in emergency contexts, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and Special Olympics International (SOI) have announced a historic partnership. This collaboration, which coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, seeks to remove barriers faced by children with intellectual disabilities in some of the world's most challenging environments.

ECW aims to address the educational obstacles hindering children and youth with disabilities through the implementation of sports programs in crisis and emergency situations. With an acceleration mechanism in place, ECW will support SOI in expanding the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® initiative. This program fosters social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities, thus creating welcoming school environments. It comprises three interconnected elements: Special Olympics Unified Sports®, inclusive youth leadership, and broader school engagement.

Globally, around 22.4 million children and adolescents with disabilities live in emergency-affected contexts and face significant hurdles to accessing quality education. The Director of ECW, Yasmine Sherif, emphasized the critical need for inclusive education, stating, "Disability is among the most pressing areas of marginalization, especially in crisis situations. A child with a disability can possess untapped potential, and we are proud to partner with Special Olympics to affirm that the right to quality, inclusive education through sports belongs to all children."

As the global fund for education in emergencies, ECW is committed to ensuring that at least 10% of its program investments cater to children with disabilities. This initiative seeks to bring together a wide array of stakeholders including governments, UN agencies, civil society and both public and private sector donors to address this urgent crisis.

The partnership will kick-start Unified Champion Schools in Uganda, specifically targeting children with intellectual disabilities living in refugee camps and similar settings. Supported by a $75,000 grant from ECW's acceleration fund, this initiative aims to create inclusive educational opportunities for some of the most vulnerable children.

Timothy Shriver, President of Special Olympics International, expressed his views, stating, "Children with intellectual disabilities are often marginalized, excluded from the promise of education and dignity. By joining forces with Education Cannot Wait, we are igniting a movement towards inclusive education that allows every child, regardless of ability, to learn, grow, and thrive. Together, ECW and SOI are recommitting to a world where education serves as a gateway to opportunities, ensuring no child is left behind."

Since 2018, ECW has invested over $80 million to bolster education programs in Uganda, focusing on equitable and inclusive educational access for refugee children and host communities, thus impacting over half a million children.

About Special Olympics

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement dedicated to ending discrimination against individuals with intellectual disabilities. It advocates for acceptance and inclusiveness for all through the power of sports, while providing programs in health, education, and leadership. With more than four million athletes and Unified Sports partners, and one million coaches and volunteers across 200 countries, Special Olympics hosts approximately 50,000 competitions and events yearly.

About Education Cannot Wait (ECW)

Education Cannot Wait is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises under the United Nations. It supports quality education for refugee and displaced children, ensuring no child is overlooked. ECW operates within a multilateral framework to enhance crisis responses and connects immediate aid with long-term programming strategies. The fund calls for urgent support from both public and private donors to reach more vulnerable children and youth.