Seeking youth to join the Inclusion Revolution! | Special Olympics British Columbia

Special Olympics BC Youth Engagement Project

Special Olympics BC is looking for young volunteers ages 15 to 30 who want to join the Inclusion Revolution and help build inclusive communities all across the province!

Too often individuals with intellectual disabilities are forgotten, marginalized, and disrespected, even today. In Special Olympics, athletes and their supporters open hearts and minds towards people with intellectual disabilities through year-round sport programs, empowering competitions, and inclusive awareness initiatives.

Our amazing athletes need the help of young people who want to change the world and create a more inclusive future!

Special Olympics BC is launching a new Youth Engagement Project funded by the Government of Canada under the Canada Service Corps. The SOBC Youth Engagement Project will provide a meaningful opportunity to address the need for greater inclusion and respect for people with intellectual disabilities in communities across B.C. Participants will also build their own skills through mentorship opportunities with the Special Olympics community.

SOBC Youth Engagement Project funded by the Government of Canada under the Canada Service Corps

Youth ages 15 to 30 are invited to apply with their idea for a project to address inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities in their community. SOBC will provide the successful participants with information, resources, support, and funding of up to $1,000 to help them execute their project.

If you are a young person who is passionate about inclusion and has a desire to improve your community and your own skills, please apply by July 8!

If you know a young champion of inclusion and the power of sport, please let them know about this opportunity to make a difference in their community while building important life skills and having a lot of fun with Special Olympics.

To apply by July 8, please click here to fill out the form online

To check out SOBC’s existing inclusion initiatives, please click here – but new and unique ideas are super welcome!

If you have any questions, please contact SOBC Youth Engagement Coordinator Jocelyn Kerr by email or by phone at 604-737-3078 / 1-888-854-2276 toll-free.

Important Dates & Timelines:

July 8, 2019	Application deadline
July 2019	Successful applicants contacted
August 16 to 18, 2019	All participants attend Youth Summit meeting in Vancouver, B.C., to develop valuable leadership and project management skills, and to launch service opportunities; travel and accommodation will be provided.
September 2019	Participants are introduced to their community’s SOBC Local Committee and educated about SOBC and the state of inclusion in their community. Participants develop a report on inclusion in their community, which identifies gaps in inclusion present in their community. Participants develop an action plan to address these gaps, increase inclusion, and engage other youth within this community. Participants develop a budget for any activities with associated expenses, which must be reviewed and approved by SOBC and the SOBC Local Committee.
October 2019	Following approval by SOBC and the SOBC Local Committee, begin participant project.
October 2019 to March 2020	Ongoing execution of participant project. Participant continues to attend SOBC Local Committee meetings.
February to March 2020	Participants complete a final report detailing activities of service project and recommendations for future inclusion initiatives. Youth Engagement Coordinator will complete a final survey to evaluate the overall experience of participants and Local Coordinators.
March 2020	Final Youth Summit and Awards Ceremony; travel and accommodation will be provided.
Participants will be supported and mentored by SOBC and the SOBC Local Committee to ensure successful and timely completion of each of the above checkpoints.