Special Olympics and Lions Clubs International carry the Torch of Hope while making a Big Splash in Trinidad and Tobago
On November 8, 2024, on a crystal-clear day in beautiful Trinidad and Tobago, Kester Edwards’ dream of hosting beach games in the Caribbean became a reality. Kester Edwards is a longtime Special Olympics athlete, Lion and Melvin Jones Fellow. He is also the Manager of Sport and Development at Special Olympics International in Washington, D.C.
Born in rural Tobago, Kester was sent to Happy Haven School for people with intellectual disabilities. At the age of 9, he started training as a Special Olympics swimmer—and his impressive trajectory as a Special Olympics athlete began. Watching Kester’s dream come to fruition was truly a sight to see.
Members of Lions Clubs International were there to support Kester in his journey and to celebrate his success. The LCIF-Special Olympics partnership began in 2001 with the international expansion of the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program.
In 2013, LCIF and Special Olympics expanded the partnership to include additional areas of service and inclusion, creating an expansive partnership platform, “Mission: Inclusion,” which offers family health education, inclusive sports, refugee programming, leadership and national partnership development, club creation and development and more.
Together, the organizations continue to demonstrate the transformative power of inclusive development to one of the most marginalized populations in the world.
The Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative Regional Beach Games in Trinidad and Tobago was packed with sports programming, health screenings, family education and most of all—partnership. On the first day of the Beach Games, Special Olympics athletes participated in Healthy Athletes screenings, gaining valuable access to health diagnostics and education. Alongside the Ministry of Health, screenings and examinations for Hypertension, Blood Sugar, Cholesterol, Physiotherapy assessment and health promotion were just some of the services provided throughout each day of the Games in Trinidad and Tobago. After their health checkups, the athletes traveled to the beach to begin competition.
On the second day, the Lions of Trinidad and Tobago partnered with Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago to host an impactful Family Health Forum, family health education seminars that are supported in large part by the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Families gathered to learn about Nutrition, Diabetes and Diabetes prevention and a host of important health topics that help families across the region support the lives of their children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A significant highlight of the day was the keynote speech given by Past International President and Former Chairperson for Lions Club International Foundation Doug Alexander, introduced by Lion Velda Ferguson Zone B Chairperson, District 60A.
Doug Alexander began his remarks reiterating his personal support for Special Olympics, but also mentioning the long-standing support that LCIF has provided to the movement of Special Olympics in over 100 nations through grants to empower local communities. He continued to announce LCIF’s firm commitment to support Special Olympics and ‘all great work SO is doing to improve the lives of those with intellectual disabilities.’
Past International President, Doug Alexander’s remarks at the Family Health Forum were consistent with his remarks at the Opening Ceremonies, where he accompanied Minister of Sport and Community Development, the Honorable Shanfa Cudjoe-Lewis.
The two highlighted their commitment and push for equity and inclusiveness in sport for people with intellectual disabilities. Born out of the World Games in Berlin in 2023, the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion—a pioneering multilateral effort to make inclusion a part of the academic and social journey of all youth—was a key point of collaboration between Special Olympics. Lions Clubs International Foundation and the national government of Trinidad and Tobago. The national government of Trinidad and Tobago is finalizing plans to become the newest member of the Coalition, committing to expanding the reach and impact of inclusive programming for youth of all abilities. Both Doug Alexander and Minister Shanfa Cudjoe-Lewis took full advantage of this opportunity to reinforce and declare their commitment to the Coalition and to the growing Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Mission: Inclusion.
PIP Doug Alexander served as Honored Guest of the Family Engagement Workshop, a workshop that ushered in one of the first ‘Families’ events in the Caribbean designed for parents and family members to share their experiences, best practices and resources as they partner with our athletes daily.
The Games concluded with an exciting and moving Closing Ceremonies, where PIP Doug and the Lions Clubs of Trinidad and Tobago presented the Executive Director of the Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative Lorna Bell with a plaque, while also giving generous gestures of appreciation on behalf of Lion Club International to Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago National Director Ferdinand Bibby and Board Chair David Benjamin.
It was an exciting time in Trinidad and Tobago celebrating the first Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative Regional Beach Games. The torch has been passed and the World now awaits the next Beach Games in the Caribbean. Mission: Inclusion stands ready to do its part!
リンクをコピーする
ホームページに戻る