Greece has formally turn out to be a member of the Particular Olympics World Coalition for Inclusion following a signing ceremony held in Athens on 17 January, demonstrating the nation’s deep-rooted dedication to social inclusion.
This pivotal second represents a daring dedication to advancing inclusive schooling and sports activities initiatives throughout faculties, neighborhood facilities, and sports activities golf equipment nationwide.
The Settlement was signed by the Minister of Schooling, Non secular Affairs & Sports activities, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the President of Particular Olympics Hellas, Ambassador advert.H, Mr. Dionysios Kodellas, and the President of Particular Olympics Europe Eurasia, Mr. David Evangelista.
The signing ceremony was additionally attended by the Deputy Minister, Mr. Ioannis Vroutsis, the Deputy Minister, Ms. Zetta Makri, and by Particular Olympics Hellas Board of Administrators members, Athletes and Younger Leaders with and with out mental disabilities. On behalf of the Stavros Niarchos Basis (SNF), Main Donor of the Particular Olympics Academic Program “Play Unified. Be taught Unified.”, the Ambassador advert.H, Mr. Vasilis Kaskarelis, Advisor to the SNF Board of Administrators, in addition to Mr. Panos Vazaos and Ms Alexia Vassilikou, from the SNF Donations and Communications Division respectively.
The Particular Olympics World Coalition for Inclusion, made potential by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Basis, serves as a collaborative platform bringing collectively governments, the personal sector, and world philanthropy. Its mission is to amplify the attain of inclusive schooling via sports activities, fostering equitable alternatives worldwide.
The Hellenic Ministry of Schooling, Non secular Affairs & Sports activities will help the mixing of Unified Colleges throughout the nation. This dedication, in collaboration with Particular Olympics, will consequence within the institution of 90 new Unified Colleges, additional embedding inclusive schooling into Greece’s academic panorama.
Minister of Schooling, Non secular Affairs and Sports activities, Kyriakos Pierrakakis stated:
“The settlement we’re signing right now with Particular Olympics is a crucial initiative to additional strengthen our wonderful collaboration, including 90 further faculties throughout Greece to the Unified Colleges Academic Program. Most significantly, nevertheless, we’re taking one other step in direction of a extra open and inclusive faculty, via academic packages and college actions that promote the visibility and acceptance of individuals with mental disabilities.
The equal inclusion of individuals with mental disabilities in society is an integral a part of the mission of each fashionable academic system. And the inclusion of the Ministry of Schooling, Non secular Affairs & Sports activities within the Particular Olympics World Coalition for Inclusion displays our dedication to fulfilling this objective within the subject.”
President of Particular Olympics Hellas, ambassador advert.H., Dionyssios Kodellas said:
“This Settlement builds on the distinctive success of the Academic Program “Play Unified.Be taught Unified.“, which was concluded between our Main Donor, Stavros Niarchos Basis (SNF) and Particular Olympics, and constitutes the start line for the continuation of the Program.
We are going to unwaveringly proceed our mission to advertise a very inclusive society. By the growth of Unified Colleges throughout Greece, we create a future based mostly on equality, acceptance and mutual respect.”
Particular Olympics Europe Eurasia President, David Evangelista added:
“The unwavering dedication from the Hellenic Republic to the Particular Olympics World Coalition for Inclusion exemplifies how nations can prepared the ground in championing inclusion via progressive partnerships and daring investments.”
Collectively in partnership with Particular Olympics Hellas, Greece is setting a brand new customary for a way inclusive schooling via sports activities can function a strong platform to bridge divides and empower youth with and with out mental disabilities alike.
We lengthen our deep gratitude to the nationwide authorities of Greece, and specifically Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis and the Ministry of Schooling for supporting our shared imaginative and prescient of inclusion for all.”
Launched in June 2023 through the Particular Olympics World Video games in Berlin, the World Coalition has quickly expanded, encouraging governments to spend money on inclusive academic packages.
The Coalition, funded by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Basis (SNF), additionally contains key world and civic stakeholders together with the United Nations Inhabitants Fund (UNFPA), the UN Refugee Company (UNHCR), Lions Golf equipment Worldwide Basis, Fondation Botnar and textile model H&M.
By bringing collectively a variety of stakeholders, the Coalition goals to extend alternatives for over 2 million younger individuals in additional than 150,000 faculties and lengthen Particular Olympics programming to 180 nations.
The Coalition’s members span a various geographic footprint, together with Angola, China, Egypt, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Malta, Mongolia, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Seychelles, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates.
