On Sunday the 15th of December, Campion School had the honour of hosting the 1st Special Olympics Youth Leadership Conference & Workshop, which was organised in collaboration with Special Olympics Hellas and Socialinnov. Youth Leaders are young people between the ages of 14 and 24, with and without intellectual disabilities, who wish to contribute to the major issue of social awareness and social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities- this conference was the first attempt to achieve this aim.
During this event, students and Youth Leaders from Campion and other Unified Champion Schools had the opportunity to interact with Athlete Leaders from Special Olympics. The main aim of this Conference was to compose a song and to create a presentation that would accompany the Special Olympics Hellenic Team to the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. However, through engaging activities such as kahoot quizzes, drawing, writing the lyrics of a song, using AI and having insightful conversations, we formed meaningful relationships and saw productive outcomes from our collaboration. Furthermore, our tasks focused specifically on understanding the qualities that are required of a Youth Leader such as respect, empathy, responsibility, decisiveness, communication and bravery. Participating in team-building activities we understood the incredible strength, determination and resilience Special Olympic athletes possess, breaking down stereotypes and misconceptions.
Attending this conference was an inspiring and transformative experience. The event provided all participants with a unique opportunity to learn about the importance of inclusion and the power of sports as well as of open-mindedness in bridging differences. Engaging with athletes, coaches, and peers from different backgrounds gave us a better understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities. The interactive workshops and team-building activities fostered a spirit of unity and encouraged us to become advocates for change within our communities. This experience not only deepened our appreciation for the values of empathy and teamwork but also motivated us to take active steps towards promoting inclusivity in our daily lives.
Roxana Rousopoulou & Pinelopi Koumoutsou
Year 12
