Hats Off for Inclusion is a student-led campaign in Zimbabwe that traveled to schools and communities to raise awareness of inclusion through outreach events, storytelling, and Unified activities. The project aimed to build safe, accepting spaces where youth with and without intellectual disabilities could thrive together.
Youth leaders Desire Nyagura and Tanatswa Mandava were inspired by the real stories of athletes who had been excluded or bullied, and they wanted to change the culture around disability in schools. Their goal was to help peers become advocates and establish inclusion clubs led by students themselves.
They partnered with the Ministry of Education, schools, student clubs, and Special Olympics Zimbabwe to host assemblies and activities focused on acceptance and awareness. Using t-shirts, sports equipment, and banners, they created a visible and welcoming atmosphere that encouraged students to take action.
The project engaged 113 Special Olympics athletes and 5,860 youth without ID, created 11 new Unified Schools and 2 Unified Sports Clubs, and trained 125 new youth leaders. Eight existing Unified Schools also expanded programming, showing strong ripple effects from the campaign.
Desire and Tanatswa say they were proudest of each other’s growth and the excitement they witnessed from students who pledged to lead inclusion at their schools. They plan to keep building on the momentum through community clubs and future school partnerships.