Global Coalition is Transforming Schools and Changing Lives

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When the Philippines joined the Global Coalition for Inclusion, it marked a significant milestone for the Asia Pacific region and reinforced a growing commitment to inclusive education. The Coalition welcomes governments to partner with Special Olympics Programs around the world to create public-private partnerships to finance inclusion initiatives.

In the Philippines, the partnership between Special Olympics Pilipinas and the Department of Education (DepEd) has created a clear pathway to expand Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (UCS)—A Special Olympics programming that offers Unified Sports (where students with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete in sport together), Inclusive Youth Leadership opportunities, and Whole School Engagement—bringing inclusive practices into classrooms and communities across the country.

For education leaders, the urgency is clear. Building inclusive mindsets early is critical to long-term change. “The earlier we start shaping attitudes and behaviors, the greater the impact we can have,” said Dr. Miguel Angelo S. Mantaring, Director IV, Bureau of Learner Support Services. “Schools play a vital role in helping young people understand inclusion from the beginning.”

Through the Coalition, schools are gaining access to training, tools, and global best practices that support the implementation of UCS.

“Being part of the Global Coalition allows us to learn from what is working in other countries and apply those ideas in our own schools,” said Dr. Laarni R. Alejandro, Principal III at P. Villanueva Elementary School.

As UCS expands across the Philippines, its impact is already being felt at the school level. For many students, it provides their first meaningful experience of inclusion, not just as a concept, but as a daily reality. Classrooms become more connected, peer relationships strengthen, and students begin to see one another differently.

“Our students’ potential is there, they just need the opportunity to be seen,” said Dr. Rosalie R. Condes, Public Schools District Supervisor. “Unified Champion Schools help bring that potential to the surface.”

This transformation extends beyond the classroom. UCS creates a culture where empathy, respect, and belonging are part of everyday life. Students without intellectual disabilities gain a deeper understanding of inclusion, while students with intellectual disabilities build confidence, friendships, and leadership skills.

Families play a central role in this process. They are often the first to advocate for their children, the ones who ensure they show up, stay engaged, and believe in their abilities. When families are supported and connected through schools, that impact multiplies. “It is evident that a student has greater success and improves when their family is supporting them,” said Eden M. Miranda, a teacher at P. Villanueva Elementary School.

For many families, UCS provides not just opportunity, but reassurance that their child is seen, valued, and part of a larger community. This support system strengthens both students and the environment around them.

For some students, these changes are deeply personal.

The Global Coalition for Inclusion has made this growth possible in the Philippines by providing the structure, partnership, and momentum needed to scale these efforts. Through building inclusive schools, a progressive future is being shaped where belonging is expected, and where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.