Promoting social inclusion through sport, through the integration of disabled children along with able-bodied kids
THE PROJECT
The initiative, at its fifth edition, aims to promote social inclusion through sports thanks to the integration of disabled children within the Milan Junior Camp along with other able-bodied kids. These weeks of work are of great help for AC Milan coaches, who learn how to handle the different medical cases, and for the tutors of partner organisations that are trained in organising sports activities and can appreciate the benefits. Diversity becomes a value and an opportunity for growth for all the boys involved, their families, and the technical/organisational staff. The project puts football as a mean for integration to respond to different types of difficulties: physical disability, psychological and intellectual discomfort. Camp’s experience, especially in the overnight accommodation formula, helps children to increase their autonomy and organisational and social skills.
THE CONTEXT
In our country, there are 85,000 pupils with disabilities in primary school and around 65,000 in secondary school: the number of these children engaged in some sporting activity is dramatically low. The proper facilities are missing and often the coaches are not trained to handle the different issues. Even more serious is the lack of information on the services present on the territory and the lack of awareness of the rehabilitative and educational function of sports in the treatment of pathologies.
These factors, coupled with the limited disposable income of households, often divert children with disabilities from sports, including, among others, a growth and socialisation experience, increasing the risk of isolation.
Partners, specific interventions and dates
Special Soccer Camp was born from the collaboration between Milan Foundation and Milan Academy. For summer 2018, six specific interventions were identified:
The Special Soccer Camp 2018 will take place between June and July in Milan Cimiano (in collaboration with Progetto Aita), Cernusco Sul Naviglio (in collaboration with the Istituto dei Tumori), Cantù (in collaboration with Briantea84), Braccagni (in collaboration with Blue Soccer Grosseto), San Martino al Cimino (in collaboration with Progetto Aita) and Cagliari (in collaboration with Fare Contatto).
