On International Day of Person with Disabilities, Special Olympics is proud to announce the next cohort of 108 Youth Leaders that will partake in the Youth Innovation Project Initiative. These Youth Leaders are becoming the living legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s bold vision of inclusion and lasting social change.
Through the generous support of Samuel Family Foundation, Lane Global Youth Leadership, Kantar, PMIEF, and Microsoft, 108 Youth Leaders will implement social inclusion projects in their local communities around the globe. From the initiative’s inception in 2018, Special Olympics has directly invested young people by bringing financial resources and support to over 533 youth-led projects in 130 Special Olympics Programs. The Youth Innovation Project Initiative is empowering young people with and without intellectual disabilities to engage directly with their peers and their communities by creating inclusive environments. During the seventh cycle, Special Olympics is excited to support 60 new projects focusing on inclusion in sport, health initiatives, environmental impact, advocacy and more across 39 Special Olympics Programs.
Watch the video to hear from our Eunice Kennedy Shriver Champions as they reflect on how her legacy has impacted their lives and motivated them to live a life of leadership and inclusion!