Women Play, Women Lead is a global initiative designed to address a clear and persistent gap: across every Special Olympics region, there are fewer female athlete leaders than male leaders, and fewer female athletes overall. Data from the 2024 census confirmed what many programs were already experiencing, women and girls with intellectual disabilities are underrepresented in leadership roles, limiting visibility, voice, and opportunity.
With support from Bank of America, each participating program launched Women Play, Women Lead to intentionally increase female athlete leadership. Through the project, 571 women and girls were trained globally in leadership skills, and 364 have already stepped into meaningful leadership roles.
The initiative focused on leadership training, access to meaningful roles, and measurable outcomes, ensuring women were not only participating, but leading. Across all locations, programs identified target participation numbers, trained every participant in leadership skills, and tracked how many female athletes moved into meaningful leadership roles.
While approaches varied by culture and context, the goal was shared: empower women and girls with intellectual disabilities to build confidence, develop skills, and claim their place as leaders. Below are just some of the highlights from participating locations, illustrating how Women Play, Women Lead is creating impact on the ground.
China
Women Play, Women Lead in China brought together female athletes from multiple provinces to build leadership skills, confidence, and regional connection. The program focused on self-awareness, communication, network-building, and practical leadership, supporting athletes to understand their rights, share their voices, and take on advocacy roles within their schools and communities.
“Through the event, I learned about healthy relationships, self-protection, and effective communication. These lessons have given me greater confidence both in my daily life and in competitions and encouraged me to express myself more openly. I have learned to respect myself and proudly say, ’I am a girl.’ And to tell others with disabilities to believe in their dreams. Just like the meaning of my name, I want to be a small sun, spreading warmth, light, and joy wherever I go.”
Female athletes were meaningfully involved throughout the program, actively participating in workshops, leading discussions, and sharing personal stories related to sport, gender, and disability. Athletes also developed and presented their own community project ideas, translating leadership training into real-world action. Through an athlete-centered approach, participants strengthened confidence, built peer networks, and stepped into leadership as speakers, role models, and advocates for inclusion.
Guatemala
Guatemala launched Women Play, Women Lead through a national Women Play, Women Lead Forum, bringing together more than 40 women, including athlete leaders, family members, and community participants from multiple regions. The forum featured successful Guatemalan women from diverse fields and emphasized peer learning, motivation, and shared leadership.
"It has changed everything for me. The way I see life now is completely different from how I lived before, because I spent years confined at home. Now, discovering the movement of inclusion, leadership, sports, and education is incredible, because everything comes together to become a well‑rounded leader and step out of anonymity."
The program also partnered with Dale Carnegie to offer a Women’s Leadership Diploma, combining virtual coursework with an in-person closing event. A dedicated WhatsApp group helped sustain engagement by sharing learning materials, motivation, and upcoming opportunities.
Existing female athlete leaders played a critical role in recruiting, mentoring, and supporting new participants. Athlete leaders Keily Maldonado and Lorena Muralles co-led planning efforts and served as emcees for the forum, modeling leadership and collaboration throughout the project.
Maryland (USA)
Special Olympics Maryland implemented Women Play, Women Lead through a Women’s Summit, planned and led by a committee of seven Athlete Leaders alongside staff. Athlete leaders were involved from the earliest planning stages, shaping the agenda, speakers, activities, and logistics.
The Summit brought together 58 female participants, including athlete leaders, non-leader athletes, chaperones, and community partners. Educational sessions focused on Athlete Leadership, advocacy, and decision-making, with athletes leading presentations and sharing lived experiences.
“The women’s summit meant that I get to celebrate and appreciate all the other female athletes of special Olympics Maryland.”
Interactive activities, performances, and community partnerships created an inclusive and energizing environment. As a direct outcome, several participants took their first steps toward becoming Athlete Leaders, demonstrating the Summit’s immediate impact on leadership pathways.
Morocco
In Morocco, Women Play, Women Lead launched in Marrakech, Casablanca, and Tétouan, with workshops adapted to local culture and athlete needs. Each region emphasized different
leadership themes, including self-expression, motivation, communication, and lived leadership experiences shared by athletes and community leaders.
“I am deeply proud to have taken part in the Women Play, Women Lead workshop. It strengthened my self-confidence and opened my eyes to the power of seeing women like me rise, lead, and succeed. Knowing that others who share my challenges have achieved their goals has inspired me to believe, more than ever, that my dreams are within reach.”
Sessions combined storytelling, group activities, and athlete-led discussions, creating interactive and inclusive learning environments. Accessibility was prioritized, including the use of translators for deaf participants, ensuring full participation.
Athletes were active contributors, sharing experiences, practicing leadership skills, and committing to bring lessons back to their communities. A closing “mirror activity,” where athletes affirmed their strengths aloud, reinforced self-worth and confidence, leaving a lasting impression across all regions.
Senegal
In Senegal, Women Play, Women Lead was implemented in Dakar and Ziguinchor through a series of inclusive, skills-based workshops designed to strengthen self-confidence, communication, and leadership capacity. Trainings focused on communication and advocacy, public speaking, safeguarding, nutrition, fitness leadership, health awareness, and personal and menstrual hygiene. Sessions were facilitated in partnership with Social Change Factory and tailored to athletes’ lived experiences.
Athletes were meaningfully involved throughout the process, including helping set schedules, shape activities, and lead discussions, particularly during the menstrual hygiene sessions. Participation and engagement were consistently strong, with athletes demonstrating increased confidence, commitment, and leadership readiness.
One standout participant, Adama Ndao, joined the Athlete Leadership Programs in 2024 and quickly emerged as a leader through her initiative, adaptability, and enthusiasm. Since participating in Women Play, Women Lead, Adama has grown into a confident athlete leader, demonstrating how targeted investment can unlock leadership potential.
Serbia
In Serbia, Women Play, Women Lead focused on structured leadership development through regional trainings, blended learning workshops, and partnerships with female coaches and women-focused organizations. Even at the project’s midpoint, the program has made significant progress in empowering female athletes as leaders, mentors, and advocates.
“Playing sports helped me believe in myself. On the field, I learned that my voice matters and that I can lead by example. Being surrounded by other women and girls today reminded me that when we support each other, we become stronger both in sports and in life.”
Participants engaged in workshops on public speaking, decision-making, teamwork, advocacy, and self-confidence, supported by experienced female athlete leaders and coaches. Female athletes served as speakers at events, mentors to new participants, and contributors to local program coordination and outreach campaigns.
By centering women’s voices and experiences, the program created safe, female-oriented spaces where athletes could explore leadership at their own pace. This approach has strengthened confidence, visibility, and long-term pathways for female leadership cross Special Olympics Serbia.
Thailand
Thailand integrated Women Play, Women Lead into its Athlete Leadership at School program, reaching female athletes within Special Education schools that already participate in Special Olympics sports. Teachers from these schools were trained as Athlete Leadership mentors, enabling them to deliver leadership programming directly within school environments.
“I used to feel nervous speaking or expressing my thoughts, because I am so afraid to make a mistake in public. After attending the Athlete Leadership program, I learn to trust myself more. I also saw that other students were nervous just like me. Working and learning through our mistakes together is like playing in a sport team. When we keep on practicing, we always get better.”
By November 2025, ten schools had implemented Athlete Leadership at School and successfully trained 85 female athlete leaders. Leadership training included the Health Messenger curriculum, requiring athletes to lead real-world health promotion activities such as hygiene education and healthy practices within their schools.
Female athlete leaders also took on additional responsibilities, including supervising younger students and supporting teachers during school activities. Through this model, women were not only trained but trusted with leadership roles, reinforcing confidence and visibility in everyday settings.
A Shared Impact
Across regions, Women Play, Women Lead has proven that when women and girls with intellectual disabilities are intentionally supported, trained, and trusted, they step into leadership with confidence and purpose.
More than a program, Women Play, Women Lead is building a global pipeline of female leaders strengthening voices, expanding opportunity, and ensuring women are not just playing, but leading.
