All-Star Day was a youth-led initiative in Lithuania that promoted youth leadership, inclusion, and visibility for Special Olympics through a sports-themed day at a European Unified Basketball Tournament. The event included a floorball session, leadership workshops, and interactive games to help introduce the Youth Leaders program to new communities. Through a series of engaging activities, participants learned how youth can lead in sport and inclusion.
Youth leaders Emilija Neverauskaite and Titas Kučinskas were inspired by the belief that young people can be strong facilitators, event leaders, and changemakers. Seeing how few cities in Lithuania were actively running youth-led Special Olympics activities, they wanted to expand the movement beyond Kaunas. Their passion for sports and personal growth motivated them to encourage more students to take on leadership roles.
They held a leadership seminar and led floorball sessions with new athletes at Vilniaus Šilas school, while also sharing their experience during Lithuania’s Olympic Days in Vilnius. The team used sport as a platform to introduce Special Olympics and recruit new Youth Leaders. Through presentations, hands-on coaching, and fun activities, they showcased inclusion in action.
The project engaged 20 Special Olympics athletes and 10 peers without ID, introduced 8 new youth leaders, and expanded programming in 2 new Unified Schools. While social media reach was limited, the in-person energy and local engagement were strong. Teachers, athletes, and community members left with greater understanding of the Youth Leader program and how they could support it.
Titas and Emilija said the highlight was seeing athletes excited to try new sports and watching their peers grow into leadership roles. Titas overcame his nerves around public speaking and led sessions with confidence. They plan to host more youth-focused events and continue online engagement with their growing network of schools and clubs.