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From Tralee to Togo: Group return from West Africa after working with children with disabilities
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Plan2Inclusivize has successfully completed its first pilot project working to ensure that sport is for everyone, including children with disabilities.

Ann O’Connor, of UNESCO, IT Tralee, in partnership with international children’s charity, Plan International Ireland and CARA (National Adapted Physical Activity Centre Ireland) has developed a pioneering sports inclusion programme and toolkit for use in developing countries to promote participation and inclusion among children and adults with disabilities.

This innovative programme was delivered in Togo, West Africa, in October 2015. Ann along with Frank Velthuizen, Plan International Ireland’s disability programme coordinator, and Aine Coogan of the CARA Disability Inclusion Training tutor team travelled to Sokode, Central Togo, and delivered this innovative programme from 12 – 16 October 2015.

Programme participants represented a cross section of Togolese society. Participants included Dr. Djobo Abass, the president of Paralympics Togo, Gneny Tchnagbele, director of Special Olympics Togo, Plan International area coordinators, PE teachers and volunteer community event organisers.

The programme was delivered over five days, with the first three days devoted to the theory and practice of how to plan and deliver an inclusive sports session to children and teenagers of mixed ability levels. Day four then saw the participants of the programme deliver an inclusive sports session to over 100 children and teenagers of mixed abilities in a small rural village outside of Sokede. Day five was devoted to the creation of community action plans for the promotion of and delivery of IMAGES (Inclusive Mixed Ability Group Events in Sport) in the communities of Togo.

Below are some of the comments the course participants expressed after delivering their inclusive sports session:

  1. Pride: “Pride because all the children were happy. I noticed that children with disability were even happier.”
  2. Happy: “Happy because we followed the theoretical knowledge we received and were able to deliver the practical. All our children were happy.”
  3. Satisfied: “Satisfied because we were a little worried at the beginning but quickly children managed to follow our instructions. They were very happy at the end.”
  4. Positive: “Positive because we learned 3 days and went after to practise. We saw and measured the challenges that were waiting for us, a foretaste of what is ahead of us in our communities.”

Togolese national news reporter Dermon Songoi covered the Plan2Inclusivize Sports Inclusion programme and it was aired on Togolese national television last week.




The team will be heading to Ethiopia in three weeks’ time to deliver this inclusive sports programme.

[This article has been edited by the Operating Team]

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