Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation Pledges $11 Million To Expand Special Olympics' Inclusive Education Initiative Globally

The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity has pledged $11 million to the Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education, based in Abu Dhabi. This funding aims to broaden the Unified Champion Schools (UCS) initiative, which promotes social inclusion among youth with and without intellectual disabilities. The grant will facilitate the programme's expansion into 10 new countries within its existing 152-country network, highlighting the UAE's dedication to global inclusivity.

The UCS initiative uses sports and youth leadership to transform schools into inclusive environments where every student is respected and valued. So far, the Global Centre for Inclusion in Education has supported 2,831 Unified Champion Schools worldwide. This effort has engaged over 1.1 million young people and trained 19,425 coaches and educators to implement inclusive programmes effectively.

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The funding will also support a professional development platform designed to train over 6,000 educators globally. This includes teachers, coaches, and youth mentors who will learn effective inclusion practices. Additionally, the grant aims to expand the Corps of Inclusive Educators, a global network offering peer-to-peer learning and technical assistance to educators and school leaders.

Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, stated that this commitment from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity is a bold affirmation of inclusion as transformation rather than charity. He emphasised that this grant helps scale a movement rooted in dignity and equality, empowering young people to reshape education systems.

Evaluations of UCS in countries like China, Greece, Egypt, India, the United States, and Kenya reveal consistent benefits for students involved. These include improved social-emotional skills and better reading and maths scores. In India, 86% of students reported stronger feelings of belonging, while nearly all students in Kenya experienced similar sentiments.

Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US and member of the Special Olympics Board of Directors, remarked on the UAE's commitment under its leadership to foster societies where youth of all abilities are empowered. He expressed pride in collaborating with Special Olympics to expand opportunities and advance equality through global cooperation.

Legacy of Inclusion

The Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education was established in 2020 with a $25 million gift from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This centre serves as a hub for inclusive education through research and policy initiatives. The renewed commitment was announced during an event at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Dr. Shamma Khalifa Al Mazrouei highlighted that this partnership reflects the UAE's belief in inclusive education's transformative power on lives and communities. She noted how these lessons extend beyond classrooms by shaping mindsets and inspiring positive change.

Patience Irfasha from Rwanda shared her experience with Unified Sports: "Participating in Unified Sports has changed my life. I've made friends I never would have met and learned that we all have something valuable to contribute, regardless of our abilities."

This funding underscores a legacy initiated by the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019. It continues contributing towards creating an environment where every child can achieve their potential.

With inputs from WAM