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Unified Sports Programs
Youth Engagement & Integration
Engaging youth and integrating people of all abilities is crucial, especially in today’s impersonal, high-tech climate where in-person contact is limited. GivaGeta facilitates face-to-face interaction and brings people together to build leaders, create meaningful and lasting connections and develop a community based on respect, acceptance and kindness. GivaGeta’s Educational Kindness Leadership Tool Kit™ fosters interactions between athletes and partners. GivaGeta’s philosophy of kindness and appreciation of diversity helps change attitudes and change lives.
What is Unified Sports®?
Unified Sports® is a registered program of Special Olympics International which combines individuals with intellectual disabilities (athletes) with individuals without intellectual disabilities (partners). The program pairs athletes and partners of similar ages and athletic abilities together and the two compete alongside one another to become an integral part of the Unified Sports team.*
* Information from CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® brochure
How GivaGeta helps Unified Sports® achieve its goals:
#1 Goal: To bring athletes and partners closer together
#2 Goal: To engage kids in valuable lessons that help sustain them throughout their lives
We are thrilled to be assisting Unified Sports teams express their thoughts and feelings and how they are affecting others.
Develop 21st Century Skills with Inquiry Based Learning
Communication. Critical Thinking. Collaboration. Problem Solving. Teamwork. Reflection and Presentation.
GivaGeta's character and leadership development tools ... a perfect fit for Special Olympics Global Messenger Program
The Global Messenger program offers public speaking and presentation skills training to Special Olympics athletes who in turn share their powerful declarations of hope, acceptance, dignity and courage with the rest of the community. It is an integral part of the Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Program, which allows athletes opportunities for greater participation as coaches, officials, team captains, spokespeople and board and committee members. (www.specialolympicsva.org/Vie/Page/Programs_Global_Messengers)
View the video below to see how GivaGeta's hands on tools bring athletes and partners closer together:
Unified Sports® achieving their goal with GivaGeta
13 reasons why CAS/CIAC Unified Sports Program uses GivaGeta's hands on tools and activities to achieve their #1 Goal to bring athletes and partners closer together:
- To engage youth and integrate people of all abilities
- As fun tools to support athletes and partners working together for positive change
- For hands-on learning
- To engage kids in character, leadership and team development activities
- For new and different icebreakers, mixers and energizers
- Self-directed free-time activities with creative card games
- To build developmental assets of respect, responsibility, teamwork, leadership and more internal and external assets with positive values in a fun filled way
- For positive outcomes for young people, improving the long-term success of Unified Sports Programs
- To recognize and reward kids for positive youth development
- To team build and develop leaders of character
- To create community and build relationships
- Small to large group involvement including team and board development
- Intergenerational activities that produce interactions people care deeply about
What Unified Sports® Athletes & Partners are saying:
“I liked how we could share our feelings and laugh with everyone."
~Unified Sports High School Student
"I thought that the lessons learned didn’t only help my school career, but I can use these lessons all through life."
"It was a fun way to interact with people."
"I found it very engaging and beneficial."
"I liked how we were involved in many activities. It helped me learn."
"I think it was good to help us learn different things we might not know about each other."
From The GivaGeta Who & The How Activity: “I chose a positive attitude [card] and this goes for everyone on the team. We had a game yesterday. I got to play and you guys were all very encouraging and positive and I really appreciate that. Thank you.”
Project Unify comments from participants at the Youth Activation Leadership Summit hosted by Special Olympics Connecticut and Connecticut Association of Schools:
"It's a game and a great element to teach character."
"It's character building in a game that helps integrate and engage youth in a meaningful way."
"I watched kids interact and enjoy the activities. It made them think about the positive character traits."
Survey Results
The following are some of the measurement survey results from the two pilots requested by the Connecticut Association of Schools Unified Sports Program:
- 100% of the students reported they were engaged in activities that fostered interaction, communication and cooperation
- 100% of students said they learned short, catchy, positive ways of thinking like a leader of character
- 96% said they learned how to create a positive and constructive climate in school
- 92% learned how a school community can make acceptance acceptable
- 100% found the workshop to be an effective tool to bring athletes and partners closer together
- 100% said they were engaged in activities where they learned valuable lessons that will sustain them throughout their lives
Give Inspiration … Get Inspired™
The following student quote is from the GivaGeta Inspirational Quote Activity. When asked to comment about the quote, “Make service your first priority", Jim Cantoni, GivaGeta Co-Founder and the workshop facilitator asked, "Why did you connect with that one?
"Because I feel that you need to strive and work toward something. You can’t just be like, oh, I’m gonna be successful at this and not do anything to reach that point."