May 5, 2011
The Social Initiatives Support Fund, headed by Gulnara Karimova, received a Certificate in recognition of its support of children with intellectual disabilities from Krzysztof Krukowski, the Organizational Development Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia during the May 5 International Conference “Social Strategies of Inclusive Education”.
The award has been given in recognition of the accomplishments of the SISF as well as several partner organizations (The Fund Forum, the Women`s Council and Special Olympics Uzbekistan) in the area of inclusive education in Uzbekistan and further integrating children with disabilities.
The Project “Inclusive Education in Uzbekistan”, a brainchild of Gulnara Karimova, was launched by the SISF in 2007. However it was in 2005 that the SISF started running projects to support children with disabilities in partnership with the Women`s Council with support from Hayot (Life) Aid Center and Umr NGO, based in Samarkand and Navoi respectively.
Experts and specialists have described the emergence of the National Model of Inclusive Education in Uzbekistan as opportune and necessary. In 2010, it was adopted by the Ministry of Public Education, with efforts being put in place to introduce it into the system of secondary and secondary-specialized education.
Presenting the Certificate, Krukowski noted the achievements of Special Olympics Uzbekistan, and a five-minute video was played to demonstrate Special Olympics Games in Poland with the successful participation of the Uzbek team.
The project seeks to draw broad public attention to issues related to the support of people with disabilities. The efforts may be exemplified by a recent charitable marathon in Tashkent. Roughly six hundred of the 10,000-odd people who joined the race were people with disabilities. Another notable effort is a series of sporting games dedicated to World Peace Day, organized by the Women`s Council in conjunction with Special Olympics Uzbekistan. The World Peace Day games include fundraisers in support of children with disabilities.
In March this year, in recognition of its efforts to support Special Olympics Uzbekistan, the Women`s Council was honored with a Certificate presented to Gulnara Karimova, the chairperson of the Organizing Council, on behalf of the President and Managing Director Mary Davis and Director of Organizational Development Krzysztof Krukowski of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia.
Related links
Fund Forum and Mehr Nuri granted Special Consultative Status by ECOSOC