Youth Leadership
Provides young people of all abilities the opportunities to be agents of change in their classrooms, schools and communities. By developing their leadership skills help students find their voices and teach them to become change agents in their communities by promoting equity and acceptance. Social inclusion is best fostered when activities within the classroom, school, and community are designed and implemented by a diverse group of students within a school.
Youth Leadership in Africa is Making News
Across Africa, young leaders with and without intellectual disabilities are stepping into the global spotlight and the world is paying attention. From Regional summits to global platforms, young Special Olympics leaders are not waiting for change; they are leading it.
2 Min Read
Empowering the Next Generation: Special Olympics Is Scaling Youth Leadership Globally
[Johannesburg, South Africa - 24 February 2026] Today, the Special Olympics Africa Regional Youth Leadership Summit kicked off in Johannesburg, bringing together youth with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to build leadership skills and strengthen youth-led change across schools and communities.
2 Min Read
Special Olympics Senegal Celebrates World Youth Skills Day and International Youth Day
Special Olympics Senegal brought together athletes, families, partners, and supporters to mark World Youth Skills Day and International Youth Day.
2 Min Read
Special Olympics Europe Eurasia Youth Leadership Council Elects New Members
New generation of changemakers from across the region is ready to champion youth empowerment for the 2025 – 2026 period.
1 Min Read
The Light Bulb Moment
Magic happened in Turin when the Sargent Shriver Global Messengers (SSGMs) connected with a group of talented college students to capture photos and spark a passion for storytelling.
4 Min Read
Friendship Turned Leadership: How Youth Leaders are Shaping an Inclusive Future
For Louis Kleemeyer and Tim Pietrowski from Germany, being part of the Special Olympics Global Youth Leadership Council has been nothing short of life-changing.
1 Min Read
Unified Champion Schools: Transformative Impacts Across Europe Eurasia
In schools across Europe Eurasia, students are redefining what it means to be inclusive through Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (UCS).
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Special Olympics Reaches Historic Milestone: 10,000 Schools Unified
The following is an excerpt from K 12 Dive's article, “‘Special Olympics Reaches Historic Milestone: 10,000 Schools Unified"
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Innovation Grant: Inclusion Beyond Sports
Inclusion Beyond Sports is changing how people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are seen and integrated into society.
2 Min Read
The True Beauty of Cape Town
Eltheo and Charl aimed to create a soccer club for 14–16-year-old girls, hoping to inspire school-going youth by showing them there is a future and that they can succeed if they set their minds to something.
4 Min Read