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SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES (part 2),
07.09 – 10.09.2006 Struga
The Republic Center for Support of Persons with Intellectual Disability – PORAKA as a service provider, within the day centers for adolescents with intellectual disability provides the needed support for the clients on daily basis; training for improvement of the independent living skills; educational programs and vocational-occupational programs as well as social activities and integration for persons with intellectual disability.
The day centers, within their program activities, are also organizing sports and recreational activities for the clients/adolescents with intellectual disability. The main goal reached with these sports and recreational activities is promotion a new form of inclusion of adolescents with intellectual disability in the society life through sports and recreation and contribution in the development of the skills for independent living for adolescents with intellectual disability. Also these activities offer opportunities for improvement of the psychophysical condition of the adolescents with intellectual disability.
During this year, the Republic Center for Support of Persons with Intellectual Disability – PORAKA has organized sports and recreational activities in the period from 29.06 till 03.07.2006 and from 07.09 till 10.09.2006, which were held in the Education and Recreation Center of the City Red Cross Skopje in Struga.
These manifestations included adolescents with intellectual disability who are clients of the day centers managed by the Republic Center – PORAKA in Skopje , Radovis, Ohrid and Struga.
While conducting these activities, leaders of the teams (personnel from the day centers) were included, as well as professionals from the Republic Center – PORAKA. The two educators from France Herve Marichal and Christopher Brauzard who were on a study tour in the Republic Center – PORAKA participated on the sports and recreational activities organized in September 2006.
The sports and recreational activities provide number of different opportunities: developing the sense of and spirit for competition amongst the adolescents with intellectual disability, the experience to be a part of a sports team and to feel the unity in the team, motivation for competition and victory, but at the same time to experience and cope with being defeated in sport games. On the other hand, these activities offer opportunities for the personnel of the day centers to be 24 hours together with the clients of the day centers allowing them to understand the rhythm of living and the behaviour of every person with intellectual disability. Furthermore, the observation of the clients in a new environment, without parental influence, offers the personnel new insights regarding the possible improvements of the independence and self-esteem among the clients and the unselfish support and friendly behaviour between themselves, something that cannot be realised during the activities in the day centers. Furthermore, these manifestations provide opportunities for improvement of the skills for personal hygiene, skills for social interactions etc.
Since the Education and Recreation Center has its own beach, it provided opportunities for organizing recreational activities in the lake during the afternoons. This was a whole new experience for the participants i.e. to be at the beach with their peers, but for the first time without their parents. It is important to note that some of the participants were afraid of going into the lake, but the personnel found adequate ways to overcome that fear and each of the clients, especially those that do not have any swimming skills, experienced floating on water with the assistance of the personnel.The sports activities were divided in the following disciplines:
Athletics
• Running on 25 m (men, women and combined);
• Running on 50 m (men, women and combined);
• Jumps in distance.
Football
• Competitions in small football (men, women and combined).
Basketball
• Competitions in basket (teams of three persons – men, women and combined).
Volleyball
• Competitions in teams of three persons (men, women and combined).
Rope pulling
• Competitions in teams consisted of three persons (men, women and combined).
The participants were previously divided in teams according to their possibilities, regardless of the day center they come from, which ensured equal participation of everyone.
The recreational part of the program included:
- Relay games (like, pass on the ball);
- Badminton;
- Frisbee;
- Different social games (memo, twister, etc);
- Drawing;
- Music and dancing.
When organizing this type of activities, raising public awareness regarding the potentials and possibilities of persons with intellectual disability is also one of the goals. Therefore, the media was present to cover this manifestation in order to witness the importance of organizing this type of activities for persons with intellectual disability. The interviews with several persons with intellectual disability and their reactions about this manifestation were a positive way of demonstrating their potentials, abilities and the need to be equal citizens in the society.
The persons with intellectual disability during the recreational activities organized in the period from 29.06 till 03.07.2006 had opportunities to socialize with the volunteers of the City Red Cross Skopje, who were at the same time staying at the Education and Recreation Center . On their initiative there was a football match between a team of the volunteers of the City Red Cross Skopje and a team of the clients of the day centers of the Republic Center – PORAKA.
It may be concluded that the goals of the sports and recreational activities were fully realised. The clients of the day centers were actively included in the sports and recreational contents, and the personnel from the day centers of the Republic Center – PORAKA had opportunity to realise important information regarding the behaviour of the clients outside the day centers, which will be of enormous significance in their further work within the individual work with the clients and for improvement of independent living skills.
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STRUGA
2006 SPORT ACTIVITIES |
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Previously held activities in Struga (part 1) |
