Search for ChangeMakers is on

“We want to encourage them to share their stories about people with an impairment whose lifes have changed through sport, and from sports teams and programmes that use sport to improve the lifes of people with an impairment around the world."

The Agitos Foundation has launched a call for organisations and people to come forward with stories about how para-sport has changed their lifes or the societies in which they live, as part of a new initiative dubbed ‘ChangeMakers’.

The campaign, which starts on Friday (14 February), is going live ahead of the United Nations’ International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 6 April, where the Agitos Foundation will launch a Facebook page to share the stories with the world.

Georg Schlachtenberger, Director of the Agitos Foundation, explained the aim of the initiative: “We know that there are a huge number of organisations, especially smaller groups of people and even individuals, who are carrying out really great work to develop para-sport at regional, national and local levels. These are the real ChangeMakers.

“Many of these people do this work completely under the radar and that needs to change.

“We want to encourage them to share their stories about people with an impairment whose lifes have changed through sport, and from sports teams and programmes that use sport to improve the lifes of people with an impairment around the world.

“Perhaps you drew inspiration from a para-athlete or became engaged through a sport programme. We are looking for stories that describe the moment or experience that triggered a change in perspective, approach, attitude or belief and the impact it has had towards positively altering perceptions.”

It is hoped that ChangeMakers will uncover previously unknown organisations, groups and people who are currently working to develop para-sport or physical activity where they live, in order to bring them into the global network of the Agitos Foundation for projects, programmes and resources.

All people have to do is visit the programme's website, complete the form and return it according to the instructions by 17 March 2014.

Those stories and projects submitted will also be published as case studies on the website and on the newly established Facebook page from 6 April to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

The day was announced during the 67th UN General Assembly and recognised the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the primary vehicle for changing society’s perceptions towards people with impairments.

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Agitos Foundation