Youth Innovation

Capacity Building

Youth Innovation

Innovation grants are grants awarded to support projects led by young people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) to promote inclusion in their school and community. Through Innovation grants, Special Olympics will boldly empower a global Unified Generation of youth, ushering in a new world of inclusion.

The following are initiatives led by Special Olympics Nigeria youth leaders:

Unified Art Project (August – October 2018):

The Unified Art Project led by athlete leader Tomiwa Adeyemo, inspired creativity training youth with and without intellectual disabilities for a period of 6weeks in art, while fostering friendships and collaboration.

A Unified Art Competition occurred at the end of the training, and the produced artwork were displayed at a mini exhibition which had in attendance Design Consultant, Osa Seven and Actor, Tobi Bakare. The project impacted 16 youth with and without ID and produced several artworks illustrating inclusion.

Stronger Together Initiative (August 2019 – January 2020)

To break barriers of differentiation, Athlete leader Kemi Musa and Youth Mentor Temidayo Balogun initiated the Stronger Together Initiative to champion inclusion in tertiary institutions.

The initiative brought together youth with and without intellectual disabilities for participation in information sessions, and various activities that show support for inclusion. At the end of which 270 students were impacted from the activation of the two unified tertiary institutions.

Go Inclusive Project (December 2019 – Present)

The Go Inclusive Project, led by Special Olympics athlete, Victor Umeh, aims to ignite the movement for the support of equal opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. A media campaign with the hashtag #Goinclusive was launched featuring informative posts about ID to stir up conversations about the integration of people with intellectual disabilities in sports, health, private and public establishments into their programs. Several individuals lend their voice to this campaign including notable people like Blessing Okagbare, Seye Ogunlewe, Enome Ebi, Desire Oparanozie, Jeff Akoh to mention a few.

The project will conclude with a one-day fun event to be announced via social media to celebrate the accomplishment of the social media campaign and commitment to the inclusion movement.