Unified Sports
Nicaragua Includes; Join the Change
Hengel
Fernanda
Region
Latin America
Program
Nicaragua
Project Year
2024
Hengel and Fernanda work to foster an inclusive environment by creating a comprehensive training plan for educators in their community!
About the Project Leaders
Hengel Josué García Potosme is a 19-year-old student currently in his second year of the Physical Education degree at the National School of Physical Education and Sports. He has been involved with Special Olympics Nicaragua for six years as a track and field athlete and has also participated in soccer and unified basketball. As a leader athlete, Hengel is a member of the Regional Council of Athlete Leaders. He has participated in various national summits, the Regional Youth Leadership Summit in Medellin, Colombia, and the Regional Athletes Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay, where he learned how to create inclusive communities. Hengel firmly believes that all young people with intellectual disabilities deserve to be included with the rest of society through sports.
Fernanda Massiel Valdez Diaz, a 22-year-old from Managua, Nicaragua, has been part of Special Olympics Nicaragua for three years, volunteering in sports competitions and serving as a trainer in the Youth Leadership Nicaragua program. She has formed bonds with athletes and supported them in creating inclusive communities. Fernanda has participated in the National Summit of Special Olympics Nicaragua, the Global Youth Leadership Summit in Berlin, and the Regional Youth Leadership Summit in Medellin, where she exchanged experiences about inclusion and methods to eliminate barriers within society. She believes that by leading through example and providing opportunities, social change can be created for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
About the Project
In Managua, Nicaragua, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities encounter various systematic challenges within the educational environment that prevent their inclusion in the community. One significant factor is limited access to quality, inclusive education. Education centers in Managua often lack sufficient resources, curricular adaptations, and trained personnel to meet the specific needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities. This shortage of resources not only restricts their personal and professional development but also contributes to ongoing instances of bullying and discrimination. To address these challenges, Hengel and Fernanda have devised a comprehensive five-step plan aimed at fostering an environment of inclusion and acceptance within their community. The first step involves assessing which areas of the educational system require enhancement by identifying schools that lack adequate teacher training. Upon pinpointing these areas, they will design and develop a specialized training program for educators and school staff. This program will focus on inclusive education, curricular adaptations, and classroom management strategies centered around diversity, awareness, and respect.
Once the program is finalized, Hengel and Fernanda will initiate workshops to train teachers in the identified schools. To further promote community involvement, they will engage families and community members in these workshops, thereby extending the educational benefits beyond the school environment. Finally, they will implement a continuous evaluation system to ensure the information remains current and the initiatives are sustainable over time.
Hengel Josué García Potosme is a 19-year-old student currently in his second year of the Physical Education degree at the National School of Physical Education and Sports. He has been involved with Special Olympics Nicaragua for six years as a track and field athlete and has also participated in soccer and unified basketball. As a leader athlete, Hengel is a member of the Regional Council of Athlete Leaders. He has participated in various national summits, the Regional Youth Leadership Summit in Medellin, Colombia, and the Regional Athletes Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay, where he learned how to create inclusive communities. Hengel firmly believes that all young people with intellectual disabilities deserve to be included with the rest of society through sports.
Fernanda Massiel Valdez Diaz, a 22-year-old from Managua, Nicaragua, has been part of Special Olympics Nicaragua for three years, volunteering in sports competitions and serving as a trainer in the Youth Leadership Nicaragua program. She has formed bonds with athletes and supported them in creating inclusive communities. Fernanda has participated in the National Summit of Special Olympics Nicaragua, the Global Youth Leadership Summit in Berlin, and the Regional Youth Leadership Summit in Medellin, where she exchanged experiences about inclusion and methods to eliminate barriers within society. She believes that by leading through example and providing opportunities, social change can be created for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
About the Project
In Managua, Nicaragua, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities encounter various systematic challenges within the educational environment that prevent their inclusion in the community. One significant factor is limited access to quality, inclusive education. Education centers in Managua often lack sufficient resources, curricular adaptations, and trained personnel to meet the specific needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities. This shortage of resources not only restricts their personal and professional development but also contributes to ongoing instances of bullying and discrimination. To address these challenges, Hengel and Fernanda have devised a comprehensive five-step plan aimed at fostering an environment of inclusion and acceptance within their community. The first step involves assessing which areas of the educational system require enhancement by identifying schools that lack adequate teacher training. Upon pinpointing these areas, they will design and develop a specialized training program for educators and school staff. This program will focus on inclusive education, curricular adaptations, and classroom management strategies centered around diversity, awareness, and respect.
Once the program is finalized, Hengel and Fernanda will initiate workshops to train teachers in the identified schools. To further promote community involvement, they will engage families and community members in these workshops, thereby extending the educational benefits beyond the school environment. Finally, they will implement a continuous evaluation system to ensure the information remains current and the initiatives are sustainable over time.