British Volunteers teach rugby at special schools

BRITISH volunteers Ashley Greaves and Aoife Byrne have been offering children at the Dagbreek and Môreson schools for special education a new opportunity to play rugby.

The two volunteers came to Namibia for eight weeks as part of a partnership between UK Sport and Special Olympics Namibia.’This opportunity has really helped us to discover and learn new ways in which sport can help to change lives, and how different sports can aid the development of different skills both physically and socially,’ says Byrne.The two have been helping to develop coaching sessions for those with intellectual disabilities and have been using rugby as a way of improving the skills of their participants. ‘Rugby League skills are very easy to learn, and already we have shown that many of the children have developed their skills in the sport,’ said Greaves. ‘We are very keen to show that more sports can be offered to children with intellectual disabilities, and are keen to help develop the sports programme here at Special Olympics Namibia,’ he added. Working with Special Olympics Namibia has helped both volunteers experience more coaching with a specified target group, namely those with intellectual disabilities.The UK volunteers have also put together a tournament which will help to unify those with and without intellectual disabilities, with Rugby League also being used in the event.To know more about the sport of Rugby League, visit www.therfl.co.uk or to get involved please call Special Olympics Namibia for more information on 061 302 403.