Sometimes you are going to have to bang on the table. Sometimes you will not be very popular when you are trying to teach people in the community. People will get angry with you. But you have to work hard for what you want. — Vicki Oren, Israel
Global Family Leaders
Special Olympics Global Family Leaders are instrumental in making Special Olympics a success for everyone involved. Global Family Leaders promote, educate and inform families, Special Olympics Programs and the community about the mission, philosophy and benefits of the movement.
Family members of a Special Olympics athlete are eligible to become Global Family Leaders. Simply participate in Special Olympics and share a commitment to the mission and philosophy of Special Olympics; enthusiasm for the movement; and dedication to the development of Global Family Initiatives. Special Olympics Global Family Leaders have summed up their commitment to the movement in the following declaration:
The Global Family Leaders' Declaration to Change the World: As Special Olympics Global Family Leaders, WE BELIEVE that any society aspiring to be just must value the ideas, skills and contributions of all of its members, including people with intellectual disability. Intellectual disabilities transcend race, gender, religion, national origin, geography and political philosophy.
WE RECOGNIZE that through sports training and competition, people with intellectual disabilities are inspiring examples for hope, dignity and courage.
WE COMMIT to understand, respect and value all individuals, to improve attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities and to create real opportunities for and with them in friendship, education, employment, self-advocacy, health care and sports participation.
WE PLEDGE to focus our efforts on developing family support through our leadership and devotion to the belief that there will come a day when the families of those with intellectual disabilities can hold their heads high throughout their community, throughout their country and throughout the entire world.
• Download Adobe PDF (117K) version of Global Family Leaders' Declaration to Change the World to print or e-mail.
The 2007-2009 Class of Global Family Leaders
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Amina Msefer, Special Olympics Morocco |
Special Olympics Middle East North Africa Amina Msefer – Special Olympics Morocco
Amina is the mother of Special Olympics Athlete, Loubna, who competes in swimming. Amina has been involved with Special Olympics Morocco for the past 13 years. She has exemplified outstanding family leadership by organizing local family conferences, encouraging other family members to become actively involved and spreading the mission of Special Olympics to the surrounding community. Amina looks forward to sharing her own Special Olympics Family experience with other families across the Region as well enriching her own Special Olympics experience by learning and listening to the stories of others.
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Vicki Oren, Special Olympics Israel |
Special Olympics Europe Eurasia Global Family Leader Vicki Oren – Special Olympics Israel
Vicki is the mother of Matti, a Special Olympics Israel athlete, who is 24 years old and competes in swimming. Aside from being a Special Olympics Family member, Vicki has experience as a volunteer and Family Coordinator for her local Special Olympics Program. She looks forward to continuing to share her successes and experiences, offer advice, and listen and learn from other Special Olympics Family members from her Region. She has said “family members are yet another voice for Special Olympics Athletes” and will work diligently to enhance support for Special Olympics Families.
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Pauline Beaumont |
Special Olympics North America Pauline Beaumont – Special Olympics Jamaica
Pauline is the foster mother of Special Olympics athlete Cassandra. She has served as Family Coordinator for Special Olympics Jamaica for the past 3 years and has extensive experience and education in special education. Using her experience of having a daughter with an intellectual disability and her experience as an educator, she started a school for high school students with intellectual disabilities in her local community. Pauline has tirelessly given to her local Special Olympics community and will continue to serve and give her best to benefit Special Olympics families throughout Special Olympics North America.
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Linda Bennet, Special Olympics Australia |
Special Olympics Asia Pacific Global Family Leader
Linda Bennett – Special Olympics Australia
Linda is the mother of Special Olympics Athlete Matthew. Linda has extensive and varied experience in working with her local Special Olympics Program in Australia. Linda went from cheering her son on the playing field sidelines, to participating as a coach, and onto serving as a delegate to the 2007 Global Family Summit at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. Linda has actively searched for ways that she can get more involved and make a difference in Special Olympics in her local community. Her new leadership position puts her in a terrific place for her to serve as a voice for Special Olympics families in the Asia Pacific Region. Whether it is working on a local, national, or regional level, Linda is proud to be involved with an organization that truly makes a difference.
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Henrietta Siu, Special Olympics Hong Kong |
Special Olympics East Asia Global Family Leader Henrietta Siu – Special Olympics Hong Kong
Henrietta is mother of Special Olympics athletes, Quinton, a 17 year old swimmer, and 14 year old Kurtis, who competes in figure skating and golf. She has been actively involved as a Special Olympics family member in Hong Kong for the past 12 years. Henrietta has organized a Family Support Network in her local community as well as encouraged other family members to volunteer and commit to fundraising for Special Olympics. Henrietta brings her leadership skills to her position as Global Family Leader from Special Olympics East Asia and will continue to organize families from the around the Region to educate, activate and encourage participation within the Movement. She will also continue to work with other Family Leaders from across the Region to represent family members from Special Olympics East Asia.
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Gina Phillips, Special Olympics South Africa |
Special Olympics Africa Global Family Leader
Gina Phillips - Special Olympics South Africa Gina is the mother of Charles, a Special Olympics South Africa athlete, who is 17 years old and competes in swimming and gymnastics. Gina became actively involved in Special Olympics after attending the Special Olympics Africa Family Leadership and Support Summit last year. Inspired by Special Olympics and her experience at the Summit she now actively engages new Special Olympics families in her local community, arranges activities for youth around Special Olympics events, and has helped to implement a brand new Young Athletes Program in her local community in South Africa. Gina looks forward to engaging even more families through the Family Support Network in Africa.
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Elisa Nadal, Special Olympics Venezuela |
Special Olympics Latin America Global Family Leader Elisa Nadal – Special Olympics Venezuela
Elisa is the mother of Special Olympics athlete Melanie and has been involved as a Family Leader in SO Venezuela for the past nine years. Since then, Elisa has actively welcomed new family members into the Special Olympics community. In addition to welcoming new Special Olympics family members, she has also helped to initiate an inclusive education program in local pre-schools. Elisa believes that sharing her own family stories as well as educating family members about the benefits of Special Olympics will help to change others’ lives and motivate them to become involved with Special Olympics. Elisa hopes to communicate and share her experience with other Special Olympics family members throughout Special Olympics Latin America.
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