Implementation of the „I Want, I Can, I Do!” Project
We have started implementation of the Project „I Want, I Can, I Do!” supported by the Society Integration Program of the Education, Culture and Sport Department of the Riga City Council. Within the frames of the Project children and youth with movement disabilities aged from 13 to 25 will attend trainings and classes of qualified experts for 20 weeks from 10th March to 15th November on: how to improve one’s physical condition and what exercises to do, how to develop style and accept one’s body with all imperfections, how to love yourself, how to choose a career and use educational possibilities.
This will provide the participants with a practical experience, skills to improve one’s physical, emotional condition, adapt in the peers’ society successfully and enter into labour market in the future.
The idea of the Project arose after we had investigated the needs of the older children of our Association – despite of their movement disabilities most of them attend ordinary schools, however they often suffer from intolerance among peers, they lack self-confidence, the exercises in sport classes do not meet their needs. Moreover the development of children with special needs is delayed therefore most of them continue their studies at school after they have turned 18, but the family is not eligible for receiving the help provided for the children with special needs. These children and youth need to receive additional support to be able to develop their talents and become full-fledged members of the society. Therefore an idea of the Project arose for the children and youth to acquire exercises for their physical comfort, consult an expert on style to learn to love one’s body, meet a psychologist and a career expert to find one’s own way in life. This possibility has become reality thanks to the financial support of the Riga City Council.