Meet Ledama: Athletes, Unified Partners and Families Light the Flame of Hope in Kenya! (Part 1)
During the Global Week of Inclusion, Special Olympics Kenya reflected on the legacy of the World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
For Special Olympics Kenya, it’s evident that their athletes and Unified Partners were protagonists of provoking conversations and building inclusive communities in their own way. They put together the following stories highlighting some of the moments where athletes and their families lit the flame of hope in communities where none existed.
Meet Purity
Purity Chepkurui Kandie, a seventeen-year-old girl, is very confident, charming and has a contagious smile. Being the last born from a family of four siblings, Purity was born with down syndrome. Her parents nurtured her well and took her to Kitale Special Unit for learners with intellectual disabilities.
Purity has been active in the Special Needs Education School competitions all the way to the national competitions. Her journeys in sports took a right turn when the Special Olympics Kenya Rift Valley region coordinator invited her to participate in regional qualifiers.
In her division, Purity competed smartly in athletics for the standing long Jump, and earned her place in the Special Olympics Kenya national team travelling to the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
In March 2019, for the first time, Purity competed in the world arena in standing long jump, and was awarded a bronze medal. Having great passion for dancing, Purity represented Kenya in the dancing competition and scored a first class medal!
A hero back home
Back in Kenya, Purity’s family hosted a grand homecoming party fit for a heroine. News of her success traveled fast to the entire Trans Nzoia County. Her parents, siblings, neighbors, school mates celebrated their daughter, sibling, classmate or friend for her beautiful success story. Her star had shone the brightest. Purity brought great hope to her community and especially to families who have children with intellectual disabilities.
When Purity and her coach arrived in school, dressed in the Special Olympics Kenya official white track suit and adorned in her medals, the entire school activities came to a standstill. Songs of praise and victory welcomed them.
Tears of joy were freely flowing among the teachers, learners and her peers in the Special Unit as Purity shared her experience in Abu Dhabi. Ever since, she has gained very many friends because her peers look to her in admiration, for her courage and with their great desire to walk her journey of excellence in sports training and competition.
Also challenged by her victory were learners from the main stream section, this made them to call a meeting with themselves and re–evaluate their academic performance and participation in co-curriculum activities.
During a Physical Education session, the pupils from Special Unit train more with hope and anticipation of going where Purity went (flying in a plane) and to win medals too. Her peers keep on asking Coach Caroline when the next Special Olympics competition is happening, and that she should not leave them behind.
At her home, parents of children with intellectual disability visit her parents and ask questions of how Purity did it! They are eager to change and learn to accept their children and give them the same opportunity given to Purity.
The Principal of Kitale School Mr. Sitienei says, “There has been 6 new enrollments in the Special Unit and further inquiries made by parents, requesting their children with intellectual disability be enrolled to Special Olympics Kenya sports training and competitions sessions, since Purity returned from Abu Dhabi.”
Coach Caroline has since acquired a good number of new athletes for enrollment for the Saturday practice and training sessions, and she uses this platform to for advocate for children with intellectual disability.
