Giannelli and Maria, youth leaders from Special Olympics Peru, developed a “Spread the Word” campaign as part of their Innovation Grant project. Through a series of trainings, people with and without intellectual disabilities shared their lived experiences in a TED Talk-style format.

The campaign reached the school community at the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, including teachers, students, and community members. The youth leaders also created campaign merchandise and a large banner where participants could sign the Pledge of Inclusion.
The project was part of an exchange with Special Olympics North America, bringing youth leaders from Peru together virtually with other young people to work toward a common goal. The experience of connecting with fellow youth leaders and collaborating across communities became a major source of inspiration for Giannelli and Maria.
One of Giannelli and Maria’s favorite parts of the project was working together toward a shared goal. Through their talks and trainings, they raised awareness about Special Olympics and encouraged members of the school community to ask questions and learn more about inclusion.

The youth leaders also focused on identifying people who were willing to continue learning and take action following the conversations.
The project aimed to challenge stereotypes within the school community and provide participants with the knowledge and skills to recognize and address barriers to inclusion. Through their campaign, Giannelli and Maria encouraged the use of inclusive language and inspired community members to advocate for inclusion.
To prepare for their conversations, Giannelli and Maria spent time learning and reflecting on their own experiences, including examining stereotypes and misconceptions they may not have previously recognized.

Moving forward, they plan to continue working alongside local Special Olympics athletes to support their personal development and share their own experiences as youth leaders in the community. They also hope to expand the project in the future to support athletes’ personal development and create employment opportunities for people with IDD.