DP Featured Ethiopia

PROJECT: ITTF & SPAT (Sport and Physical and Activity Trainers) Collaboration in Ethiopia

MISSION:
- To support the integration of people with a disability into the society
- To provide the necessary tools for them to get a professional job
- To promote the table tennis for social integration
- To provide equal opportunities to women

ITTF-SPAT Collaboration
The SPAT project is a program started in Ethiopia by RESPO International to give jobs and life opportunities to people with a disability. This collaboration with SPAT aims to educate the 20 young students in physical education, recreation and sports with to allow them to become sport teachers and work in schools. They are taught to teach Table Tennis to both the able-bodied and people with a disability. It was the first time a coaching course was conducted solely for coaches with disabilities.
Indian manufacturer Stag aided the ITTF Development Program to provide equipment including tables, rackets and balls which were used during the program.

Equal Opportunities to Women
The SPAT project is a very inclusive program because it gives equal opportunities to both genders; in fact the students are 10 men and 10 women. A Women’s Meeting was also held (the first in Ethiopia) to discuss activities designed by the ITTF Women’s Working Group and ITTF Women’s Development Program, and to gather new ideas to promote equality to women, and especially women with a disability.

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GOING FORWARD: Well equipped with the necessary skills to be a coach, the students are ready to make a difference to table tennis in Ethiopia. Not just for the able-bodied, but also for those with a disability. As a result of the first Women’s Meeting, the ladies decided that they will continue organizing women’s meetings periodically to discuss and review situations that they are facing in everyday life and sports life.

INVOLVED: ITTF, RESPO International – DIRES House of the Sport, Stag