This inspired them to lead the “Waytaita” Youth Innovation Project, which will give young people the opportunity to participate in Unified Swimming. By creating a swimming school for youth with and without intellectual disabilities, they believe that young people will be positively influenced just like Loreto, who feels she’s learned more from the athletes than she can even teach them, and just like Kevin, who feels more included in society due to his participation in Special Olympics.

Over the course of 6 months, Loreto and Kevin hope to get 24 Special Olympics athletes involved in Unified Swimming practices that are led by young leaders like themselves. They plan to hold weekly classes in 2-to-3-month periods at their sponsoring school, the Sek International School, and then to take this program to other Unified Schools that can develop Unified Leadership groups of their own. By expanding programming at Unified Schools, Loreto and Kevin will provide more opportunities for youth with and without intellectual disabilities to work together and see the mutual benefits of doing so.