Ireland’s youngest ever Paralympic athlete Ellen Keane helped launch the initiative which aims to help normalize disability and improve education for disabled children around the world.
Ms Keane said she was very proud to support the initiative: “For young people with disabilities, especially in the developing world, it is important to bring children together of all abilities.
“Children can often feel isolated, marginalized and excluded, but sport can remove those barriers.
“All young people should realize their very basic right to be included in the lives of their communities.”
UNESCO Chair Manager at IT Tralee Catherine Carty said:
“Sport is underutilized as a tool for improving education for children.
“This program makes a deliberate effort to ensure inclusion, as without a conscious effort, inclusion of children with disabilities will not be achieved.”
The initiative has previously been implemented in several countries including Ethiopia, Guinea, Uganda, Togo, Jordan and Pakistan.