Sport plays an essential role in the social inclusion of people with disabilities, significantly improving their quality of life and self-esteem. But in Afghanistan – a country at war for over 40 years and with enormous economic, social and security problems – playing a sport remains a dream for those with disabilities, who receive compassion but no rights.
The Power of Sport promotes sport among Afghans with disabilities. It supports Afghan wheelchair basketball teams, finances the costs of national teams’ participation in international tournaments, donates wheelchairs for competition, trains professionals (referees, coaches and raters) working in the field of sports for the disabled.
The project financed the rehabilitation of a sports facility in Maimana and, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, built a sports hall for the disabled in Herat. This was the second such facility in Afghanistan. We are also working on equipping and making the Afghan Paralympic Committee’s facilities in Kabul and Ghora accessible.
The project – which assists 600 people with disabilities – is directed by Alberto Cairo, a NOVE member, twice Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Henry Dunant Medal recipient and for over thirty years head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Orthopaedic Programme in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan – Kabul and Herat. 2016-2023.
