First Lady of El Salvador Opens IPC Youth Workshop

15 Apr 2011 By IPC

Vanda Pignato, El Salvador’s First Lady and Secretary of Social Inclusion, opened the first International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Youth Workshop in San Salvador on Monday, 11 April.

Taking place at the Sports Palace in San Salvador, the Opening Ceremony was attended by the 60 youngsters with a disability from six invited Central American countries, who paraded and presented themselves in colorful dresses. Octavio Londono, President of the Americas Paralympic Committee, Jaime Rodriguez, President of the National Sports Institute of El Salvador and Jose Luis Campo, IPC Governing Board member, were also present.

Organized by the IPC in conjunction with the National Sports Institute of El Salvador and funded by the Foundation of Global Sports Development with USD 50,000, the Youth Workshop aims to empower the 60 youngsters with a disability to get into sport and develop their sporting abilities.

The first activities considered in the development programme of the Youth Camp in El Salvador 2011 have already taken place. On Monday afternoon, the youngsters were given workshops by co-ordinators of the IPC in which they learned about the rights for people with a disability in an entertaining and interactive way.

The training for participants will include elements to improve interpersonal skills, focus on individual living conditions and having a significant part dedicated on sports. Five Paralympic sports including Athletics, Goalball, Para Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, and Wheelchair Tennis will be practiced. The Paralympic values including courage, determination, inspiration and equality, will also be experienced, practiced and taken into the lives of the youngsters.

The IPC has not only invited the youngsters to this workshop, but also coaches and youth co-ordinators to receive specific training in order to enable them to spread the empowerment message to an even wider audience following the conclusion of the workshop.

The Foundation for Global Sports Development’s work with international sports organizations helps young athletes from disadvantaged background and developing countries train and prepare for international competition that would otherwise be out of reach. In addition, the government of El Salvador supports the workshop by providing accommodation, transport, volunteers and sport venues.