Empowering Schools Through Inclusion and Sport
Thimphu, April 19, 2025 — A three-day training program titled “Building Bridges – Enhancing School Communities through Unified Sports and Inclusive Practices” commenced today in Thimphu, organized by Special Olympics Bhutan and supported by Special Olympics Asia Pacific. The event marks a significant milestone in Bhutan’s ongoing efforts to build inclusive, accepting, and empowering school communities where every child, regardless of ability, belongs.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dasho Dechen Wangmo, President of Special Olympics Bhutan, who emphasized the urgency of reimagining school systems as inclusive spaces. “Inclusion is not charity; it is our collective responsibility,” she noted, as participants from across the nation gathered with a shared mission to transform their schools and communities.
The training will be facilitated by a skilled team from Special Olympics Asia Pacific, each bringing a unique depth of knowledge and experience to the sessions. Pam Rolink, Senior Manager for Youth Initiatives, will lead discussions on inclusive youth leadership and whole-school engagement, drawing from her extensive experience empowering young people across the region to become advocates for inclusion.
She is been joined by Simran Sahni, Intern for Youth Initiatives, who brings fresh energy and insight into youth engagement, supporting participants in exploring innovative ways to foster peer-to-peer inclusion within their schools.
On the sports front, Jovina Choo, Senior Manager for Sport, will guide sessions focused on the implementation of Unified Sports, best practices in inclusive physical education, and strategies to create meaningful sports experiences for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
Participants will be engaging in role-play, planning sessions, and group reflections aimed at exploring not just what inclusion looks like, but how it feels—and how to make it sustainable.. The training brings together a diverse and dedicated group of individuals. Ten sports instructors from pilot schools across Bhutan—including Kamji, Drugyel, Samtse, Tendruk, Changangkha, Dechenchholing, Loselling, Motithang, Sherabgatshel, and Samtengang—are joined by ten family members from the Phensem Parents Support Group and five teachers from DAKTSHO, a non-profit that supports children and youth with disabilities.
At the heart of the program is the Unified Champion School model, which promotes meaningful social inclusion through three pillars: Unified Sports (where students with and without disabilities train and compete together), Inclusive Youth Leadership (student-led advocacy and awareness), and Whole School Engagement (activities that promote a culture of respect and belonging).
Special Olympics Bhutan has made it clear that 2025 is a year of action. The vision is to convert the ten participating pilot schools into the first Unified Champion Schools in the country. These institutions will not only embody inclusive practices but also serve as beacons for other schools across Bhutan to follow.
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