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#1000CRANESFORINCLUSION
FOR HOPE & HEALING
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People with intellectual disabilities (ID) dream to live a life we have mostly taken for granted. Their normal is mostly one of isolation and exclusion. Across the region, Special Olympics Asia Pacific youth leaders with and without ID have come together to fold origami cranes, where Japanese legend states that every 1000 pieces forms a #Senbazuru, a symbol of hope and healing during challenging times.
We urge everyone to join in and help us create #1000CranesForInclusion, to raise awareness and help change the normal of people with intellectual disabilities!
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GET READY TO RETURN TO PLAY
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As the world continues to grapple with the health and dire socio-economic impact in the wake of the pandemic, many of our Programs are starting to plan ahead to prepare themselves for their journey towards recovery and activity.
At the recent Special Olympics Global Webinar, Programs were presented with guidelines to better prepare them for their return to activities while ensuring the health and safety of all athletes, coaches, volunteers and staff. These resources will be continuously updated.
As a great reference, SO Australia has created a set of materials for their Back to Sport Clubhouse which details its plans and resources.
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IGM BRINA MAXINO
NOW UNESCO GEM CHAMPION
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Special Olympics International Global Messenger Brina Maxino is among the 10 global inclusion champions appointed by Unesco alongside their global launch of the Unesco GEM Report 2020.
She is the only recipient from the Asia Pacific region, alongside teachers, education policy makers and community leaders from around the globe.
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The report calls for countries to concentrate on those being left behind from the education process because of their context or ability. It also aims to widen the understanding of inclusive education to include all learners with examples of policies which have been implemented in countries where inclusion is being achieved. |
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SO THAILAND PREMIERES
THANK YOU MY SILENT HEROES
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Following the popularity of its earlier music video Let Me Be The One ( Kor Pen Khon Nueng), SO Thailand launched its second music video, Thank You, My Silent Heroes dedicated to the frontline healthcare personnel globally working tirelessly during this pandemic.
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The song features regionally renowned artistes Bright Vachirawit, Win Metawin and SO Thailand’s Youth Ambassador Ada Chunhavajira. The video saw 300,000 views within 24 hours and to date, it has achieved close to 820,000 views in slightly over a month.
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SNF SUPPORTS VIRTUAL
UNIFIED SKIPPING COMPETITION
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Staying apart doesn’t mean skipping away from camaraderie and activity. The competition was conceptualised by SO Bharat Youth leader Amitasha N Mishra which saw the regular activity of skipping being transformed into a digital competitive sport and activated through a project supported by Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and Ministry of Youth Affairs, India.
SO Asia Pacific Regional President and Managing Director, Dipak Natali said, “Here in the Special Olympics movement, we believe in the strength of our athletes and young people to lead the charge for inclusion. During this global pandemic, Special Olympics unified pairs from across the Asia Pacific region have led by example and inspired the wider community with positive messages to stay fit, healthy, and socially connected while being isolated at home.”
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MAKING THE MOST DURING LOCKDOWN
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In this Asian Development (ADB) opinion piece, get a glimpse of how Shey Kadian, SOAP Regional Athlete Input Council member and SO Bharat National Athlete Input Council Chairperson, has kept himself busy while using his time meaningfully during the lockdown.
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LIONS CLUB AND SO NIPPON
RENEWS PARTNERSHIP
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Lions Clubs International and SO Nippon recently signed a memo to renew their partnership dedicated to empowering the lives of athletes through service.
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NOMINATE YOUR CHAMPIONS OF INCLUSION
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Help us gather and share inspiring stories of people who are Champions of Inclusion—so they can be recognized on our website and social media.
Who do you know who's leading the charge for respecting and empowering people of all abilities in sports, in schools, in the workplace, in the community, everywhere?
Together, and individually, these champions are breaking down barriers and building a more just and joyful world for all of us!
Content submitted will be considered for sharing on our website, in media stories, and social media platforms during the Global Week of Inclusion, July 20-26, 2020.
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REGIONAL WEBINAR RESOURCES
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SOAP held a series of four regional webinars in the last quarter to support leaders in their programmatic work during this COVID-19 Crisis with a focus on addressing challenges and planning ahead; gathering information on available resources; and to discuss issues to keep work going in these challenging times.
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The first webinar on Sport and Physical Fitness focused on the safety and wellness of athletes with a reminder to leverage on the SO Online Learning Portal to access interactive, educational courses. The second session on Health looked at safety concerns at home, as well as mental health support for athletes. The third featured Athlete and Youth Leadership with a focus on Unified Leadership, the highlights of a recently conducted youth survey and the sharing of the “How to” Webinars aimed at building a community of youth leaders and strengthening mental well-being.
The final Webinar informed on the revised SOAP Team and Relationship Manager Structures, the Return To Play Recommendations, the Regional Competition Schedule as well as the revised Calendar of Events & Activities for 2020.
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MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR PARTNERS
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