Empowering Leadership Abilities brought together youth with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) from both special and mainstream schools to reimagine inclusive leadership. The project expanded Unified Champion School programming and offered athletes meaningful opportunities to grow as leaders.
The inspiration for the project came from the desire to see athletes with ID smile and feel a sense of belonging. Support from their mentor and the National Youth Leadership Committee motivated Fawaz and Abubakar to push for more inclusion and empowerment.
The team introduced Unified Leadership activities across three special schools, engaging athletes as trainers and event volunteers while also expanding inclusive programming to six schools in total. They overcame barriers through motivational speeches and planning sessions that emphasized acceptance and collaboration.
The project trained 24 new youth leaders, engaged 110 athletes with ID and 30 peers without ID, and reached over 2,100 people via social media. It strengthened the inclusion movement across Pakistan’s Unified Champion Schools by encouraging athlete-led leadership and expanding volunteer involvement.
Fawaz and Abubakar are proud of the friendships they formed, the leadership growth they witnessed in athletes, and the participation of siblings and peers in their activities. They aim to keep the momentum going by organizing a skit about athlete challenges and a talent showcase festival at a special school.