Special Olympics Senegal brought together athletes, families, partners, and supporters to mark World Youth Skills Day and International Youth Day. These annual observances celebrate the potential of young people as leaders, innovators, and contributors to inclusive development.
The celebration served as a platform to highlight the skills, talents, and leadership of athletes with intellectual disabilities, while also setting the stage for future growth through the establishment of the National Athletes’ Council. Fifty athletes and Unified partners from Dakar, Kolda, Mbour, Saint-Louis, and Ziguinchor participated in workshops, training sessions, and exhibitions designed to showcase their abilities and strengthen their role as advocates for inclusion.
National Youth Summit
The National Youth Summit convened at Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium. Leaders, including Colonel Babacar Gueye (Vice-President of the Board of Directors), Ms. Rajah Sy (National Director), and Mr. Assane Thiam (Director of Sport), opened the summit with a call to action: empower athletes not just as participants, but as decision-makers.
The summit included a refresher on Athlete Leadership programs, a review of 2025 activities, and planning for 2026. The highlight was the election of a 10-member National Athletes’ Council, ensuring athletes have a stronger voice in shaping the movement nationally.
World Youth Skills Day
The Blaise Senghor Regional Cultural Centre hosted a vibrant celebration of World Youth Skills Day. Athletes presented their entrepreneurial and creative skills across various fields including batik, carpentry, hairdressing, embroidery, and food processing.
Government officials, families, and partners attended to show their support, with performances by the Dakar Theatre Troupe and Ziguinchor’s traditional dance group adding cultural richness to the day.
The celebrations underscored Special Olympics Senegal’s commitment to capacity building and reducing inequalities, a core goal of its 2023 – 2025 Strategic Orientation Plan. Moving forward, the program aims to:
- Strengthen the role of the National Athletes’ Council
- Expand participation across more sub-programs
- Partner with sponsors and technical partners for vocational training, grants, and equipment
- Support athletes’ entrepreneurial initiatives
“Thanks to sport I overcome my disability,” said a Senegal Athlete. “Thanks to you I rise to challenges.”
Through these celebrations, Special Olympics Senegal not only recognized the achievements of its athletes but also reinforced its vision of a more inclusive nation where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
