Oman at Special Olympics Youth Summit

Oman has been chosen as one of the only 19 countries to participate at the Special Olympics Global Youth Leaders’ at Winter Games Austria 2017.

From Oman, Safwat bin Ahmed al Kharousi, will be presenting his initiative with the accompaniment of Faisal bin Hamoud al Harrasi, a college student along with mentor Anwar Mohammed al Mahrouqi.

Young people with and without intellectual disabilities will gather in Graz from today to discuss ways to make society more accepting when it comes to individuals with intellectual disability. The initiative Safwat and Faisal will be advocating the need to stop the use of the word, ‘ Backward’ through an art campaign called Mix with Colour, which will integrate people with intellectual disabilities in art at the same time bringing into focus the participants’ leadership abilities. The talented 23-year-old, Safwat works in the private sector and has a passion for drawing, football and sailing. “Usually at least in the past people with disability were often referred to as ‘backward’ or ‘retarded’. Whether it is genetics or a complication during pregnancy, some children are born with intellectual disability. These children have to be integrated with the rest of the community,” said HH Sayyid Faisal al Said, Chairman of Special Olympics Oman, and the representative to Special Olympics.

Safwat has had already gone through the leadership programme. “The Leadership Programme is to engage them to become leaders of their own cause. The theme of the summit is called ‘Social Impact for a Unified Generation.’

One of the requirements is that when the participants come back they have to implement the project. “The team plans to make the project a reality by finding partnerships with schools and artists. People with total abilities merge with people who have intellectual disabilities,” explained Dalia Muhammed al Bassami from Special Olympics Oman.