Great news from Malawi: the I’mPOSSIBLE education programme has been launched in the country! 👏
Last Friday 6 December more than 40 teachers from 15 schools took part in a training activity and will soon be able to deliver the programme to children aged 6-12.
MALAWI PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE LAUNCHES I’mPOSSIBLE SCHOOLS TRAINING PROGRAM
The Malawi Paralympic Committee, with help from the International Paralympic committee and Malawi National Council of Sports has launched I’mPOSSIBLE, a Paralympic schools training program. The launch took place yesterday the 6th of January.
The launch took place in Chiradzulo district at Maravi Teachers Development Centre, where the Acting District Education Manager, Mrs Ruth Chibani presided over the opening ceremony.
The occasion was also graced by the Executive Secretary of the Malawi National Council of Sports Mr George Jana and Mrs Ruth Mzengo, Sports Development officer.
Other dignitaries came from the District Assembly sports offices.
After the one hour launch ceremony, 42 participants that comprised of teachers and their head teachers from the Maravi zones fifteen schools underwent an intensive training to fully appreciate and understand the I’mPOSSIBLE project.
The project, as explained by James Chiutsi, MPC President, aims at changing people’s perception towards sport for people with disabilities, by cleverly involving kids aged between 6 and 12 years. ” obviously these young people will go to their families and communities and spread the gospel about sport for people with disabilities and obviously Paralympic games. MPC is very excited to manage this project ”
Both Malawi National sports council officials and the District Education Manager called upon the participants to take the course seriously as it offers hope to the development of sport for people with disabilities in the country. Courting the Chichewa addage “mmera mpoyamba” the District Education Manager emphasised that teaching young kids with fresh minds is the sure way of ensuring that stigmatisation of people with disabilities will be eradicated.
She said disabled people will no longer be regarded as beggars in the streets but will soon be transformed into proffessional athletes and some into efficient sports managers.
On their part, the sports council officials thanked the MPC for diligently rolling out outreach programs in the recent past, citing programs like the Athlete Identification and Awareness Program, Capacity Building Activities, media outreach, and the structural development within the MPC that has seen the establishment of the Para Athletics and Wheel Chair basketball wings.
The sports council further acknowledges the support of the Agitos Foundation, the IPCs development wing, saying it has played a very crucial role in MPCs recent achievement and called the IPC “a very credible partner”
While hailing the launch of the I’mPOSSIBLE as a major success, MNCS cautioned MPC against complacency and emphasised on the need for transparency and accountability.
MPC President Mr. James Chiutsi, said the Paralympic Movements vision of enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspiring and exciting the world will certainly come true.
He said the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality will be manifested in this training program as young people will be taken through this year long training program.
He however lamented low participation of the corporate world in sport for people with disabilities activities.
