This project was part of a Unified Youth Exchange between Special Olympics Mexico and a Special Olympics North America program. Through the Exchange, Youth Leaders collaborated to identify challenges related to inclusion in their communities and develop projects to address them.

Yaretzi and Alexandra recognized that many people in their community were unfamiliar with Special Olympics. They set out to raise awareness of the movement, establish new Unified Schools and Unified Champion Schools, and engage students in inclusive activities that bring young people together.
Yaretzi and Alexandra were inspired by the athletes involved in their local Special Olympics Mexico program and the support of their families. They also expressed gratitude to their teachers and parents, whose encouragement and guidance helped make the project possible.
Yaretzi and Alexandra began by engaging their school communities, meeting with teachers and school administrators to introduce their ideas and propose a Unified tournament. They then attended conferences, conducted outreach, and invited students from local schools to participate.

After months of preparation, the Youth Leaders organized a Unified tournament that brought students together through shared activities, creating opportunities to connect, learn, and experience inclusion firsthand.
The project helped establish new Unified Schools and create clubs and groups dedicated to promoting inclusion. Through these efforts, more students and community members learned about Special Olympics and the importance of building inclusive communities.

One of Yaretzi and Alexandra's favorite parts of the project was watching students build friendships, share experiences, and learn from one another. Looking ahead, they hope to expand the initiative and train other Youth Leaders to organize similar projects in their communities.
Throughout the project, Yaretzi and Alexandra strengthened their public speaking and communication skills. Although speaking in front of an audience was initially challenging, they grew more confident in engaging others, maintaining their interest, and sharing their message of inclusion.

They were especially proud to become recognized members of their community who could spread the message of inclusion and represent Special Olympics athletes. Their experience reinforced their commitment to engaging more young people in the movement.