Leading Change through Inclusive Sport

When: 16 February 2022, 12.30pm CET / 6.30pm EST

Children’s right to play, meaningful leisure time and physical activity is enshrined in both the Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 31, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, article 30.

The reality throughout most of the world, especially in the global south, is that the fundamental right to be physical active through play, sport and recreational activities is largely not fulfilled. Stigma, poverty, cultural beliefs, and the lack of policy implementation is resulting in many children being marginalized, particularly children and youth with a disability.

To overcome the challenges, several actions, from national to community level, need to be taken for persons with a disability to be fully included in sport, physical activity, and physical education. No organization or group can do this alone.

This webinar will attempt to address challenges children with a disability face in relation to participation in sport, physical activity, and play. The webinar will showcase a collaborative approach in achieving results. Three Zambian sports for development NGO’s and Organizations of Persons with (OPD’s) together achieved results beyond their expectations. The partnership brought about change in awareness and capacity of sport coaches, teachers, and community leaders on involving persons with disabilities. Most importantly, the collaboration engaged hundreds of children in safe and inclusive physical activity and sports programs.

The speakers in the participatory panel discussion webinar will present the Zambian context of collaboration related to children’s access to sport, physical activity, and play. They will also explain how Sport NGO’s together with OPD’s managed to engage government institutions and community leaders, to build awareness and support to ensure children with disabilities are included within their community.

The main objectives of the webinar are to:

1. Illustrate meaningful engagement of a multi-stakeholder coordinated effort to strengthen organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in advancing the rights of children and youth living with disabilities to inclusive education, health, social protection, and improved livelihoods
2. Demonstrate how sport contributes to a positive transformation of attitudes in communities in addressing opportunities for children and youth with disabilities.

Register for the webinar here.

Find out more about the other side events taking place at the Global Disability Summit.