Minister of State for Education and Sports Rosemary Seninde and the US ambassador Deborah Malac (center) pose for a photo with other participants at the Uganda Disabled Sports summit. PHOTO: David Namunyala
Uganda Paralympic Committee (UPC) president Mpindi Bumali has applauded BlazeSports International, an organisation with support from USAID for initiating a program to change lives of disabled children in the country.
“Unlike some of us who missed such opportunities, the new generation will live to have a smile on their faces at an earlier age,” Bumali said.
The three year project will start in the districts of Gulu and Kampala before spreading to other areas in the country. According to the US ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac, they aim at empowering all children with disabilities and especially girls.
“Our major target is majorly on the girl child that we want to give the confidence and desire to be physically active for life,” Malac said at Sport View Hotel in Kireka.
“Whether in team sports or individual activities like track and field, physical activities can help break the barriers of social exclusion many girls face in cultures that place lesser value on women but when they are better off physically, emotionally and economically, everyone benefits.”
Meanwhile BlazeSports executive director Cynthia Frisina also added that they plan to train about 250 local coaches in various regions who will help execute the duties throughout the country during the three year project.