Sports for African children with Disabilities

During this month different activities were conducted which were in line with the project objectives.

     ACTIVITIES

• Delivery of the refresher training course for coaches
• Follow up of the coaches
• Scheduling of the training programme in schools
• Mobilisation of the coaches.

On 10^th June 2011 the refresher course began at the GDPU centre.  Twenty coaches attended the activities over two days, with discussions taking place over skills already acquired by the coaches and new ideas that will help in handling forthcoming seasons. Attendees included Fred Semakula ( GDPU co-ordinator), Ojok Patrick (GDPU Field Officer). Simon represented the Visually impaired department. The training was facilitated by Michael Aloya and Jill of TKL. The main outcomes of the training  were as follows:

• Different skills/ideas for coaching various games with children with disabilities were covered. This included ideas for sports such as volleyball, football, showdown, goal ball, wheelchair basketball, netball and Boccia
• Discusssions took place about the necessary communication skills required when dealing with children with disabilities
• Discipline among the coaches was highlighted as a top priority in the project
• The overarching goal of advocating the rights of children with disabilities through sports was considered, and how the Gulu project could best achieve this
• There was also a discussion of LANGUAGE used while with the children with disabilities during sporting activities

In the two weeks following the training course TKL travelled to meet the various coaches at their schools to see if they were using the skills/knowledge acquired. As a result of these follow-up consultations the training course can be considered a success as most of the coaches had begun some mentoring processes with the children, talking about various aspects of the games that will be tested during the project. For example, children at Mother Teresa Primary School and Laroo Boarding Primary School were already practicing football, while at Gulu Primary School their children were already enjoying the showdown and the goalball games.

The Project Coordinator also emphasized that the project should promote strict adherence to respecting the rights of the persons with disabilities.

Links:

• The Kids League website