Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities in Beira

More about Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities in Beira

In Mozambique disability by birth is considered a punishment of God. Persons with disability are stigmatized and excluded from social life, medical treatment and working life. They are isolated, without social contacts, without education and belong to the poorest in Mozambique – one of the poorest countries in the world. In this context, a local sporting initiative for persons with disability has made a very big difference – for the disabled athletes, their families, but also on the community as a whole. Through regular training activities and local and national competitions, sport has become a valuable tool to trigger change.

Participating in the trainings makes the athletes discover their abilities, rather than being focused on their disabilities. Families and friends are proud of their achievements; neighbours start to question their prejudices, when observing the disabled child entering the bus in sports clothes to attend a competition. By interacting with people in similar situations athletes and their families get moral and actual support for their everyday life. With growing self-esteem most athletes start to lead a more self-determined life – which also disburdens their families. The high media coverage of the competitions also leads to a bigger interest in this association among public institutions.