The “Engineer Tomas Guardia” school is a member of the Unified Champion School (UCS) network, which brings young people with and without intellectual disabilities together to learn, grow, and build a more inclusive school community.

Youth leaders Austin de Jesus and Eduardo Alfredo hosted a workshop focused on inclusion, bringing students and teachers together through creative activities and Unified Sports. As part of the project, students created drawings and messages about inclusion that came together to form a crossword featuring the words “Unified Sports.” The crossword was left at the school as a lasting message about the importance of inclusion.

The project also used unified basketball to help students understand the value of inclusion and create greater support for all members of their school community. Moving forward, Austin and Eduardo hope to continue encouraging students to become involved with Special Olympics as athletes, partners, or volunteers.
The project was inspired by the support of Austin and Eduardo’s mentors, who helped them prepare for the project and encouraged them throughout its implementation. The youth leaders were also grateful to their local Special Olympics chapter for providing a space to bring the project to life.
Austin and Eduardo began the project by spending time with students over lunch, creating an opportunity to connect and build relationships before beginning the activities.

Following the shared meal, students divided into small groups to create drawings and messages about inclusion. These contributions were brought together to form a crossword spelling out “Unified Sports,” creating a visual reminder of the message they hoped to share with the school community.

The group then participated in Unified basketball, beginning with drills that brought students and teachers together on the court. Through the activities, Austin and Eduardo were able to share the mission of Special Olympics and demonstrate how Unified Sports can create opportunities for everyone to participate.

One of the most meaningful parts of the project was seeing the students and teachers respond to the message of inclusion. The youth leaders were proud to see participants connect with the idea that everyone deserves opportunities to learn, participate, and be included.
The project helped students see the impact that inclusion and Special Olympics can have within their school community. For Austin and Eduardo, one of their favorite parts of the experience was having the opportunity to speak publicly, empower athletes to share their stories, and encourage others to become advocates for inclusion.

Through the project, they also recruited young people to become part of the Special Olympics movement. Moving forward, Austin and Eduardo hope to continue sharing how Special Olympics has helped them feel important, capable, and empowered to make a difference in their community.
Throughout the project, Austin and Eduardo gained confidence in their ability to lead and speak in front of others. At the beginning, one youth leader shared that they felt insecure and afraid to speak publicly. With encouragement and preparation from their mentors, they learned to overcome those fears and confidently guide the activities.

The experience showed Austin and Eduardo that they were capable of leading others, mentoring their peers, and creating opportunities for inclusion in their community.