Anastasios and Kosta will lead a Youth Innovation Project to expand Unified Sports programs in Hellas to promote collaboration and trust between youth with and without intellectual disabilities. By introducing new Unified Sports programming, Anastasios and Kostas seek to increase youth participation in Unified Sports through new sports and recreational interests for current Special Olympics athletes and Youth Leaders. With their project, Anastasios and Kostas hope they will strengthen the impact of the Special Olympics movement and spread a culture of inclusion across Hellas.

Over nine months, Anastasios and Kostas will lead a team of Special Olympics Youth Leaders to plan and implement their project. They will engage 150 Youth Leaders with and without disabilities in interactive activities to promote trust and teamwork including climbing and fitness-based activities Anastasios and Kostas will feature different training activities and virtual competitions each week. They will lead two sessions of “Reaching the Sky,” a three-month interactive program that introduces Special Olympics athletes and Youth Leaders to rock wall safety and climbing. Through these sessions, participants will learn about responsibility, teamwork, trust, and inclusion. Anastasios and Kostas hope the success of their project will result in new Unified Schools and Unified Sports rock climbing in Hellas. Anastasios and Kostas hope to inspire new Youth Leaders to join them as the Unified Generation reaches new heights in their journey to promote inclusion in their communities.