UAE Expands Global Impact with Multimillion Dollar Grant to Advance Inclusive Education through Special Olympics Initiative

Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity Announces $11 Million Grant to Expand Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity has announced a significant US$11 million grant to the Abu Dhabi-based Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education. This funding will expand the Unified Champion Schools (UCS) initiative, a transformative programme designed to promote social inclusion for youth with and without intellectual disabilities worldwide. The grant will enable the initiative to expand into 10 new country programmes, broadening the UCS impact across its existing 152-country network. This major boost underscores the UAE’s commitment to advancing inclusion globally. Additionally, the funding will support the launch of a professional development platform to train over 6,000 educators worldwide—including teachers, coaches, and youth mentors—in effective inclusion practices. The grant will also further expand the Corps of Inclusive Educators, a global network of mentors that provides peer-to-peer learning and technical assistance for educators, embedding inclusion in school cultures for lasting impact. The Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education serves as a global hub for thought leadership in inclusive education, focusing on research, policy, and programming. The Centre, which opened in Abu Dhabi in 2020, was originally established following a $25 million gift from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as a legacy of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019. The renewed commitment was revealed at a special event hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Attendees included Yousef Al Otaiba (UAE Ambassador to the US and Special Olympics Board member), H.E. Dr. Tareq Al Ameri (Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency), Dr. Shamma Khalifa Al Mazrouei (Acting Director General of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity), and Dr. Timothy Shriver (Chairman of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors). Opening remarks were delivered by H.E. Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, UAE Minister of Family. Quotes from Key Figures:Yousef Al Otaiba:“Under the guidance of our leadership, the UAE is committed to fostering societies where youth of all abilities are empowered and celebrated. The UAE is proud to work alongside Special Olympics to expand opportunity, advance equality, and demonstrate the power of global collaboration to create lasting change.” Dr. Shamma Khalifa Al Mazrouei:“This partnership reflects the UAE’s belief that inclusive education has the power to transform lives, communities, and societies. We have seen firsthand how these learnings extend far beyond the classroom – shaping mindsets, harnessing potential, and inspiring positive change. With this commitment to the Global Centre for Inclusion in Education, we further a legacy that began with the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi, and is contributing to a future where every child can achieve and thrive.” Dr. Timothy Shriver:“This landmark commitment from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity is a bold affirmation of a simple but revolutionary idea: inclusion is not charity, it is transformation. With this grant, we are scaling a movement rooted in dignity, equality, and the power of young people to reshape education systems. Guided by the leadership of the UAE and as a direct legacy of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, we continue to expand inclusive education systems that enable us to realize the potential of every child.” The Unified Champion Schools (UCS) programme uses sports and youth leadership to engage the whole school community, transforming schools into places where every student is valued, respected, and included. So far, the Global Centre has supported 2,831 UCS locations globally, engaged over 1.1 million young people, and trained 19,425 educators and coaches to deliver inclusive programming. A Special Olympics Rwanda athlete, Patience Irfasha, shared:“Participating in Unified Sports has changed my life. I’ve made friends I never would have met and learned that we all have something valuable to contribute, regardless of our abilities.” Evaluations of the UCS programme in China, Greece, Egypt, India, the United States, and Kenya report consistent benefits for all participating students: improved social-emotional skills; better reading and mathematics scores; and stronger feelings of belonging—with 86% of students in India and nearly all in Kenya reporting this outcome. Importantly, there were also significant reductions in bullying and teasing. In Greece, students were found to be 9 to 16 times more likely to report increased patience, empathy, and understanding of emotions thanks to the programme. Team V.4-EM-UAE