The “I Can!” project started off in Luzhniki on 22 April.

The universal gym hall “Druzhba” hosted the first tennis lesson for a class of disabled kids in the sports section operating on the basis of the Luzhniki Children and Youth Sport School.

The classes will held regularly as part of the “I Can!” project carried out as a collaboration of several large companies, including Regional Public Organization of Invalids “Perspectiva”, Luzhniki CYSS, Johnson & Johnson, Adi Dassler and the Deloitte Foundation charities, with the support from the United Nations Organization.

The goal of the project is to help children with disabilities in overcoming barriers which separate them from the rest of the world, providing them with a unique opportunity to participate in sports.

The second part of the project is aimed at bringing these children into physical training and sport classes at schools. For this purpose, three inclusive schools in Moscow (No. 518, No. 1447, No. 1961) will be equipped with all the necessary facilities and equipment in order for children with special needs to be able to participate in athletic lessons. Teachers and coaches will pass special training and will be paid extra for their assistance in this task.

Inclusive education is an approach which brings children into the general education process despite their physical, mental or any other disabilities.

“These children should not only study like the rest, but have all the other equal opportunities for development and social adaptation with the rest of the students. For us, this project is not simply a realization of business social responsibility ideas. It has united similarly thinking people from across different areas. We see examples in other countries where children with disabilities have great and realistic opportunities for adaptation. However, this pattern is only beginning to emerge in Russia. Inclusive schools are starting up, but they need support in expanding their potential, and this is where we step in,” says Vladimir Makatsaria, vice-president of the European division of Johnson & Johnson.

The experience of inclusive schools in western countries over the last decades has demonstrated that joint classes, physical development and sports activities, as well as other forms of joint leisure with peers are beneficial not only for the growth, emotional status and behavior of children with disabilities, but for the children who learn alongside them as well.

In Russia inclusive schools have only recently begun to open, and face a variety of challenges. These are not only technical matters, such as the need for equipping schools to suit the needs of disabled children, but misunderstanding and disgruntlement of some parents, conservatism of the educational system and lack of appropriately qualified specialists for the unique needs of these children. While the first steps in this sphere have been implemented, even in Moscow it has been impossible to organize physical training lessons for such kids, let alone sport sections, in inclusive schools. Yet, the emotional charge of joint physical training and sport activities with peers, the delight of surmounting and even minor victories is absolutely essential for the development of any child.

“The ‘I Can!’ project is a real step forward in improving the social standing of disabled children. According to the UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international human rights and other treaties in the area, primarily the UN Convention on rights of people with disabilities which went into effect on 3 May, people with disabilities are deemed equal with the rest of the population in their civil, political, social and cultural rights. However, the genuine and unobstructed exercise of such rights requires understanding, support and considerable efforts by society. This is the true value of the project,” says regional councilor of the UN development program Shombi Sharp.

“The Perspectiva organization is ten years old. Over the course of this time, with the help from our partners, we have successfully realized over 50 projects aimed at making young disabled people more active, protecting their rights for education, creating an acceptable environment and changing the public opinion to one of acceptance. We are noticing the attitude of the people to be truly altering,” notes director of Perspectiva Denis Roza. “The unique project that we present today confirms this. Definitely, this is a breakthrough in the inclusion movement in Russia. We are very grateful to everyone who has been brought together by the project. It is only through joint effort that we can give our children the opportunity to study and engage in sports together, helping and teaching each other human values – the joy of socializing, sympathy and mutual help.”

The project is supported by the United Nations Organization.

Project initiators:
Luzhniki CYSS, Regional public organization of invalids Perspectiva, Johnson & Johnson, Adi Dassler and the Deloitte Foundation charities.

Technical support:
Babolat, BBDO Moscow and Druzhba UGH