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LUCY'S WORK IN HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AROUND THE WORLD

Montenegro

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Lucy met, played with, and helped so many kids in Montenegro. She spoke at the United Nations building and the Launch of the Special Olympics - UNICEF Unified Youth Teams Project.

Kosovo

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Straight from Montenegro, Lucy headed over to Kosovo where she saw the stigma that children with disabilities face in the Roma community. While there is still a lot of work to be done in Kosovo, Lucy loved all the kids and can't wait to come back!

Jamaica, I'm Back!

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Her second time in Jamaica, Lucy was an inspiration. She was the keynote speaker at the Special Olympics Unified Teams Competitions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Lucy saw the difference Special Olympics and UNICEF USA are making in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She was sad to learn from the UNICEF country office in Bosnia and Herzegovina that 40% of parents of children without disabilities do not want their child to attend school with a child with a disability. Lucy believes that as these organizations grow in that country, these statistics will change.

Azerbaijan

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Lucy spoke at the United Nations House to many UN agencies in Azerbaijan to share with them about the importance of acceptance and inclusion.

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Lucy spoke at the US Ambassador’s Residence in Azerbaijan to spread awareness about Special Olympics and how it has allowed her to compete with her friends and be on a team.

Switzerland

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Lucy spoke to the UNICEF world headquarters of Private Fundraising and Partnership division. She shared with them how Special Olympics has changed her life and the lives of others with disabilities and how with UNICEF’s assistance more young people can have the same experience.

Brazil

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Recife Brazil is considered “ground zero” for the Zika virus and Lucy spent time at the premier hospital assisting children with microcephaly. She told the mothers that their children were beautiful just the way that they are. The clinic doctor told Lucy that no one has ever said that about their children and that seeing how well she is doing with cerebral palsy gives them hope.

Jamaica

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In 2016, Lucy traveled to Jamaica to see Special Olympics and UNICEF USA in action. She visited the remote areas of Jamaica. These organizations are moving in to provide inclusive schools, medical services, and access to resources. Children with disabilities are helped by: (1) early childhood development programming; (2) encouraging family involvement of children with intellectual disabilities; and (3) development of inclusive sports. In 2017, these programs reached almost 1,000 people and 50 clinicians island-wide.

Uganda

In 2018, UNICEF and Special Olympics launched a one-year project to empower over 400 children with and without disabilities in four districts in Uganda. Working closely with the District Education offices and Kyambogo University, UNICEF and Special Olympics are providing equal access to social and educational opportunities for children with disabilities through sports within schools and communities. Children with disabilities are less likely to attend school and, as a result, miss out on many sports and recreation activities that are provided through the school system. Many children, especially those with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities, drop out of school because the system does not have ways of supporting them. This project addresses this gap and includes several activities designed to strengthen sports programming and coaching to expand opportunities for children with disabilities within their communities.

Peru

In 2016, 250 new young athletes participated in Special Olympics and UNICEF USA programs; 40 athletes received health services, 200 children received screenings in five different disciplines, and 46 clinical and 30 non-clinical volunteers participated throughout. Additionally, the Family Health Forum took place in Peru with a total attendance of 168 family members, 42 athletes and 32 teachers.

Mexico

In 2016, Special Olympics and UNICEF USA executed a healthy athletes event to provide health screenings to 400 athletes in five different disciplines. During the event, 1,790 screenings were achieved and 206 clinical and 70 non-clinical volunteers participated in the event. Two Family Health Forums took place with a total attendance of 100 family members, 60 athletes and 10 individuals of external audience.

Paraguay

In 2016, a total of 80 athletes received health services during the healthy athletes event that took place in Asuncion and 104 clinical and 32 non-clinical volunteers helped conduct 240 health screenings in three difference disciplines. Also, two Family Health Forums took place in Paraguay, with a total attendance of 100 family members, 20 athletes and 30 individuals of external audience.

Moldova

Children in Moldova participated in a Family health forum event in Moldova hosted by Special Olympics and UNICEF. 2017 marked the beginning of country-level collaboration with both these organizations in the Central Asian sub-region.

Nicaragua

Special Olympics and UNICEF in Nicaragua have the goal of training at least 50 medical professionals from three clinical disciplines (medicine, vision care, oral health, etc.) and offering the opportunity to 250 children with and without intellectual disabilities to participate in Unified Sports programming to forge stronger social inclusion through sport.

Zambia

Since 2016, Special Olympics Zambia and the UNICEF Zambia Country Office have shared a strong relationship, rooted in the provision of inclusive sports programming to youth with and without intellectual disabilities through the Unified Sports program. In late 2016, both organizations teamed up to conduct a high-profile Unified Sports tournament, coinciding with the International Day of Disability (3 December), and championed by the First Lady of the Republic- Her Excellency Mrs. Esther Lunga.