A groundbreaking new initiative has launched within the Particular Olympics MENA (Center East and North Africa) area: the Unified Champion Faculties (UCS) Ambassadors program. This primary-of-its-kind undertaking brings the voices of youth to the forefront, providing them a platform to steer, encourage, and create extra inclusive communities by means of the transformative energy of sports activities. As ambassadors, chosen youth leaders from throughout the area will work collaboratively to foster respect and unity, driving ahead the mission of Particular Olympics Unified Champion Faculties.
What’s the UCS Ambassadors Initiative?
The UCS Ambassadors initiative is designed to empower younger leaders throughout the MENA area, spotlighting their efforts to advertise inclusion and respect by means of sports activities. Every ambassador will signify the values of UCS by serving on a committee of like-minded friends, engaged on actions that emphasize unity, teamwork, and the facility of numerous views. By way of each digital and in-person actions, ambassadors will join with youth leaders from different packages within the area, strengthening bonds between different youth engaged in UCS whereas making certain that the affect of our UCS work is highlighted and resonates with present and new stakeholders inside and outdoors of Particular Olympics MENA.
Why This Initiative Issues
This initiative is greater than only a management alternative; it is a platform for private {and professional} development, a community for youth devoted to social change, and a technique to elevate the visibility of inclusive communities. UCS Ambassadors is not going to solely develop expertise but additionally acquire distinctive entry to Particular Olympics packages at native, regional, and international ranges. By participating with youth from completely different backgrounds, they’ll construct relationships and domesticate mutual understanding—important parts for creating inclusive communities.
The UCS Ambassadors will serve a two-year time period, from September 2024 by means of August 2026. Over this era, ambassadors will actively contribute to regional Unified Champion Faculties occasions, assist form the path of UCS initiatives, and provide steady suggestions to Particular Olympics MENA, making certain that youth voices are central to this system’s evolution.
Get to Know Our Particular Olympics Egypt UCS Ambassadors: Yasmine and Farah, Champions of Inclusion
Meet two of our inspiring UCS Ambassadors: Yasmine Hassan and Farah Wael, passionate advocates for inclusive areas. Their journeys are a testomony to the facility of sports activities, dedication, and a shared imaginative and prescient of making inclusive communities for all. Let’s dive into their tales and uncover how they’re making an affect!
Yasmine Hassan: Swimming Champion and Sturdy Well being Advocate
Yasmine Hassan, a 20-year-old scholar in her second 12 months on the School of Languages and World Research on the Arab College for Science and Know-how in Cairo, has been competing in Particular Olympics Egypt swimming championships since she was simply ten years outdated. Her dedication and expertise have earned her over 80 medals, together with three golds on the 2018 Particular Olympics Regional Video games in Abu Dhabi.
Past her athletic achievements, Yasmine has additionally taken on management roles inside Particular Olympics. In 2021 – 2022, she served as a member of the Athletes’ Enter Council and attended each the primary and second Nationwide Management Youth Summits, in addition to the 2024 World Digital Youth & Educator Summit. As a Well being Messenger, Yasmine’s dedication goes past sports activities; she’s concerned in numerous well being and expertise coaching packages that empower her to be an advocate for well being and wellness inside her group.
Farah Wael: A Devoted Advocate for Inclusion
Since becoming a member of Particular Olympics Egypt in January 2020, Farah, a 25-year-old Youth chief, has immersed herself in actions that promote inclusion and encourage youth to dream large. Her experiences at occasions just like the 2020 Pan African Olympic Video games and the 2023 World Youth Management Summit in Berlin have solidified her ardour for constructing inclusive areas. Rising up in a unified faculty, Farah witnessed the transformative energy of inclusion firsthand, the place people with completely different talents have been seen, valued, and celebrated.
By way of her advocacy, Farah has labored on impactful initiatives just like the Scale Challenge with Yasmine, elevating consciousness about unified sports activities in faculties. Her journey has even taken her to tv, the place she collaborated with Lujain to encourage youth to embrace inclusivity and chase their desires. These experiences have impressed Farah to proceed her advocacy, working tirelessly to make sure everybody, no matter means, feels included.
Each Yasmine and Farah exemplify the mission of UCS by actively selling unity, respect, and inclusion of their communities. Their collaborative initiatives, just like the Scale Challenge, function highly effective platforms to unfold consciousness in regards to the significance of inclusive sports activities and the way they will carry individuals collectively. As UCS Ambassadors, they’re main by instance, displaying the world the constructive change that inclusive communities can create.
Keep tuned as we proceed to observe Yasmine and Farah on their journey as UCS Ambassadors, championing inclusivity in sports activities and past!
Meet Malak and Douae: UCS Ambassadors Main the Approach By way of Inclusion and Empowerment
As we speak, we’re thrilled to introduce two exceptional younger leaders from Morocco, Malak Tilaoui and Douae Bendouya. As new Unified Champion Faculties Ambassadors, Malak and Douae carry distinctive experiences, abilities, and enthusiasm to the mission of making inclusive, supportive communities. Their dedication to UCS values and fervour for empowering others set them aside as inspiring position fashions, and their journeys are certain to encourage others to hitch the UCS motion.
Malak Tilaoui: A Passionate Youth Chief from Marrakech
At simply 13, quickly turning 14, Malak Tilaoui is already making an affect in her group of Marrakech, Morocco. A scholar at Elaraki Worldwide College, Malak has been an lively participant in UCS occasions over the previous 12 months. Her involvement goes past mere participation; she has taken on the accountability of organizing sports activities actions for youngsters at UCS, bringing pleasure and pleasure to the youthful individuals.
One in every of Malak’s favourite experiences was organizing soccer video games at her faculty’s campus, Elaraki Izdihar, and exploring artistic arts like hand-painting, the place youngsters joyfully painted timber, homes, and skies. Watching the youngsters’s delight as they engaged in these actions was a spotlight for her and strengthened her appreciation for the modern concepts UCS brings to life. As a UCS Ambassador, Malak is keen to extend native involvement by connecting with faculties and households, displaying them the constructive affect UCS actions have on constructing inclusive communities. Her ardour and hands-on expertise make her an ideal advocate for inclusion, and he or she hopes to encourage much more youth to hitch the motion.
Douae Bendouya: A Gifted Sports activities Fanatic and Advocate from Rabat
Hailing from Morocco’s capital metropolis, Rabat, 17-year-old Douae Bendouya is a devoted advocate for inclusion and an lively member of the AMSAT Affiliation, supporting these with Down syndrome. Douae’s pursuits are as diverse as they’re inspiring—she’s keen about sports activities, likes to prepare dinner, and is a proficient theatre actress. Along with her expertise in public talking and her expertise in managing a sports activities crew, Douae brings priceless management qualities to her position as a UCS Ambassador.
Douae’s background in theater has gifted her with the arrogance to talk to giant audiences, and her enthusiasm for UCS comes from her perception that everybody, no matter their talents, deserves to be included in sports activities and group actions. As an envoy, she’s prepared to make use of her expertise to encourage younger individuals in her group to interact in inclusive actions and to exhibit the worth of teamwork, respect, and unity. Douae sees her position as a chance to create constructive change, motivating others to hitch the UCS journey.
As UCS Ambassadors, Malak and Douae are dedicated to fostering inclusive areas the place all youth really feel valued and empowered. Collectively, they intention to attach with others of their communities, advocating for extra participation in UCS actions, particularly for younger individuals with completely different talents. Their mixed efforts are set to create stronger, extra unified communities, reflecting the true spirit of UCS.
Meet Almezin Mohamed and Aisha Al Shehhi: UCS Ambassadors for Inclusion and Change:
Introducing two inspiring youth leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Almezin Mohamed and Aisha Al Shehhi, who’re making waves of their communities as Unified Champion Faculties Ambassadors. With a shared dedication to inclusivity and empowerment, Almezin and Aisha carry distinctive experiences and a deep ardour for advocating for people with mental disabilities. Their journeys with UCS haven’t solely impacted their lives however have additionally geared up them to steer others towards a extra inclusive future.
Almezin Mohamed: From Introvert to Advocate:Seventeen-year-old Almezin Mohamed’s journey with the Unified Champion Faculties Program started in ninth grade through the planning of the “Integration Competition—Unfold the Phrase of Integration” and the “We Are All Aisha’s Coronary heart Competition” in 2021. This expertise sparked Almezin’s involvement, main her to hitch the Unified Robotics and Badminton groups. By way of UCS, Almezin discovered herself remodeled from a shy, introverted particular person right into a social, assured chief. Her newfound friendships and actions in school have strengthened not solely her connections with friends but additionally her relationship with household.
As a UCS Ambassador, Almezin is keen about elevating consciousness of the challenges confronted by individuals with mental disabilities and selling a extra inclusive society. Her advocacy efforts concentrate on:
- Elevated Consciousness: Almezin goals to coach the general public and stakeholders in regards to the significance of inclusivity, shedding gentle on the precious contributions of individuals with mental disabilities.
- Advocacy for Change: She actively helps insurance policies and practices that enhance accessibility and inclusivity, pushing for native packages to undertake extra supportive measures.
- Management and Mentorship: Almezin hopes to mentor college students and workers inside UCS, inspiring deeper engagement in fostering a tradition of inclusion and respect.
Aisha Al Shehhi: Advocating for Unity and Consciousness
Fifteen-year-old Aisha Al Shehhi, an eleventh-grade scholar at Aisha Bint Abi Bakr College in Abu Dhabi, first skilled the magic of Particular Olympics in ninth grade. Throughout a college Union Day occasion, Aisha joined Almezin for a morning radio presentation, which included reciting a poem for the UCS crew. This second, together with the sturdy sense of unity amongst her friends, deepened her ardour for UCS. Supported by her instructor, Aisha was quickly nominated as a Unified companion alongside Almezin. Collectively, they deliberate groups, organized month-to-month conferences, and led occasions like Nationwide Day, Flag Day, and numerous faculty actions. Additionally they spearheaded the formation of unified sports activities groups, together with soccer, badminton, and robotics, selling an inclusive spirit in school.
As a UCS Ambassador, Aisha envisions a world the place everyone seems to be welcomed and celebrated. Aisha’s position as a UCS Ambassador facilities round constructing a stronger, extra inclusive group and provoking constructive change all through the area.
Collectively, Almezin and Aisha exemplify the values of UCS, utilizing their experiences and voices to advocate for inclusive environments and constructive change. By way of awareness-building, coverage advocacy, and group engagement, they’re devoted to making a world the place everybody, no matter means, is revered and celebrated.
