125th Paralympic school day takes place in Croatia

“Allianz is a proud ambassador of Paralympics, and we try, through different projects, to help create equal terms for growing up and living for our fellow citizens with disabilities and development difficulties.“

The Croatian Paralympic Committee, together with Allianz, hosted their 125th Paralympic school day on Monday (23 February) with students from “Antun i Stjepan Radic” elementary school in Gunja.

During the day long activity pupils learned all about the Paralympic values and development challenges which their fellow students encounter.

Paralympic school day has been held since 2010, and during this period the project set the ground values for tolerance and acceptance of fellow students with development difficulties, all through specially designed games, physical activities and presentations.

Since the Gunja elementary school has two students with an impairment, Allianz donated one lifting platform to the school as a part of the Paralympic school day.

“We helped the flooded areas with a monetary donation and by activating our employees at the very beginning, and in that moment we promised to contribute to the normalisation of lives in the flooded areas,” said Maja Amidzic, the head of Market management sector of Allianz.

“Allianz is a proud ambassador of Paralympics, and we try, through different projects, to help create equal terms for growing up and living for our fellow citizens with disabilities and development difficulties.

“When we found out that Gunja teachers carry their students to the second floor of the school, we felt the need to do something, and to facilitate those students’ movements around the school. It is also important for their socialising that the fellow students are sensitised about accepting differences, and we have therefore in co-operation with NPC Croatia decided to organise the Paralympic school day”

Students had the opportunity to spend time with famous Croatian Paralympians Andjela Muzinic and Kristijan Vincetic. They told the pupils all about their school experiences, and emphasised the importance of lifting platforms in helping students with a disability feel independent. The successful Paralympians also mentioned the importance of programmess such as the Paralympic school day, since these activities develop the consciousness and empathy of school children.

“The possibility for giving children a chance to experience the world of Paralympics has great meaning for development of sports for disabled people and for building a more tolerant and better society,” said Ticijan Komparic, the main secretary of the Croatian Paralympic Committee.

“As children are the bearers of the future and a key link on our path, several years ago we decided to start the Paralympic school day. It is a one-day programme during which all of our athletes and volunteers teach Paralympic values, break barriers and create admiration for extraordinary accomplishments by extraordinary people – Paralympians.”