East Carolina University faculty, students and alumni will travel to Peru in March to embrace a unique opportunity to impact people with and without intellectual disabilities as part of the 2024 ECU and Special Olympics Unified Youth Exchange Project Ta.
Para-swimmer Dunia Felices Rojas spoke to ECU faculty and students about her experience losing four limbs as a teenager.
The trip to Peru during spring break was aimed at sharing and exchanging ideas on how to make sports more accessible in both countries. Insights from youth leaders hand-picked by seasoned adult mentors resulted in hands-on learning and a greater appreciation for learning from people from different backgrounds.
“It was heartening to see different people's days change for the better during the exchange process,” said Professor of Kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Performance and principal investigator of the exchange program. said Dr. Stacey Warner. Grant. “From our first day in Raleigh-Durham, where we saw a TSA agent high-fiving a very nervous first-time flight, to our last day in Peru, when he noticed our group and had a chance encounter with a swimmer with Down syndrome. It was a very memorable and meaningful experience with the biggest smiles, handshakes, and hugs. Thank you to this ECU HHP team and the Special Olympics staff for their hard work. It made an impact.”
Support in Peru came from Special Olympics International, the U.S. Embassy in Peru, and Special Olympics North Carolina. The agenda will focus on sport for social change and will utilize a combination of interactive activities, talks from Peruvian sports leaders, connections with local organizations, and reflection opportunities that build skills and foster cross-cultural dialogue. did.
Three of the budding youth leaders were excited to experience their first flight. Upon arrival, the group was welcomed by the U.S. Embassy in Peru, toured the region, learned from informative health and safety presentations, and heard about services and programs offered by the U.S. Department of State.
Other highlights include:
- Visit to Machu Picchu with a tour guide recommended by the American Embassy. The group learned about the history of the area while admiring the beautiful scenery.
- A meeting with Dunia Felices Rojas, award-winning para swimmer and founder of Paramas, an association dedicated to bringing about social change through para sports. Ms. Rojas' inspiring story of learning to swim after losing a limb at age 15 and insightful questions from the delegation led to a rich conversation about accessibility and determination.
- Connect with Colectivo Down Peru, an organization focused on the inclusion of people with Down syndrome in Peru. ECU representatives also participated in a basketball clinic rooted in the universal language of sport.
- Learn about the work of Juega En Tu Barrio, an organization that brings people of all abilities and ages together to participate in recreational activities. The leadership team fostered inclusive activities that fostered problem-solving and collaboration.
Members of the ECU travel group take photos at Machu Picchu.
Prior to this experience, ECU student mentors and partner Special Olympics athletes were recognized at Minguez Coliseum during the ECU women's basketball game on January 20, kicking off the orientation phase of the exchange project. Youth leaders will stay connected via virtual connections and engage in preparation for the inbound segment to North Carolina and her ECU in the coming months.
The interdisciplinary aspects of the College of Health and Human Performance are represented by a faculty team of Ph.D. AJ Ahn (Adapted Sports Specialist), Eboni Bo (Cross-Cultural Coordinator and Project Evaluation Specialist), Andrea Buenaño (Sports and Experiential Learning Project Director), Christine Habeeb (Sports Psychology and Unified Sports Specialist); David Roy (Director, Head of the ECU Design4Disability Initiative) and Mr Warner (Director, ECU Sport and Community Development Lab).
The program also includes Eric Martinez Santoyo, who graduated with a degree in foreign language and literature with an emphasis in Hispanic studies. ECU students Jacqueline Acuña Mendoza (recreational therapy major), Jillian Conroy (exercise physiology and Hispanic studies), and Marcos Ardon Lobos (recreational therapy). Special Olympics athletes Elijah White, Princess Bristow, Gabe McBride, and Lana Foster.
