Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Volume 6 Issue 3 The Journal of Mine Action Article 8

December 2002

VVAF and Sports for Life: Promoting Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Rights

Sarah Warren Save the Children

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Recommended Citation Warren, Sarah (2002) "VVAF and Sports for Life: Promoting Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Rights," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 6 : Iss. 3 , Article 8. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss3/8

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Warren: VVAF and Sports for Life: Promoting Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Rights

needs of survivors is a critical aspect of riviries and begin advocating for them­ Reversal of Fortune rhe rehabilitation process and should in selves. VVAF and Sports for no way be misconstrued as a luxury. In­ In Cambodia, people have tradition­ deed, without an opportunity to leave Sport as an Entry Point ally looked upon disability as a sign of their homes and participate in commu­ bad karma. meaning that people with dis­ nity life-and without enough self-con­ The basic concept underlying Sports abilities eviden rly brough r misfortune life: Promoting Rehabilitation, fidence w get them our of the house­ for Life is that that sport can be used as a upon themselves through some wrong­ some people feel they have no reason ro powerful vehicle for change. On rhe in­ doing in a previous life. The disabled vol­ Reintegration and Rights wear a prosthesis or make use of a wheel­ dividual level, sports and recreation play leyball p la yers supported by VVAF's chair. Follow-up care and outreach ser­ an important parr in promoting physical Sports for Lite program no longer buy • VVAF volleyball vices are essential to ensure that devices health and mobility, as well as emotional into that conception of disability. The players compete at are appropriately constructed and fi tted well-being and self-confidence. At rhe Cambodian National Volleyball Team for the Sydney Para­ and are being used properly. Beyond this, same rime, sports and recreation activi­ the Disabled currently ranks fourth in rhe olympics. c/o Andy Eams though, we must also support survivors ties provide people with disabilities an world in standing volleyball. Standing in becoming reintegrated into all aspects opportunity-sometimes their first op­ volleyball is a sport played by people with of community life, including education, portunity-to come together to share a fairly h igh level of mobility, such as employment, recreation, and social and ideas and experiences. What begins as a people with a single arm or leg amputa­ political activities. conversation about sport typically evolves tion and people with limited paralysis, Barriers exist in every society that inro a conversation about accessibility, such as some polio survivors. make such integration challenging, a!J of employmenr or education. Also, because VVAF has supported rhe national rhem bolstered by one of rhe largest bar­ of irs wide appeal, sport provides an in­ ream since 1999, when ir was training for riers of all: people's ani tudes towards dis­ viting and positive way ro increase the the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, ability. Problematic are both the self-im­ visibility of people with disabilities in Australia. Cambodia won only one of irs age of people with disabilities and the their communities, drawing attention to five marches in Australia, bur returned perceptions of society as a whole. In the their strengths and abilities. Also, sports ro the practice court at VVAF's Kien countries in which VYAF works, people and recreation activities can be integrated Khleang Rehabilitation Center deter­ with disabilities are rypica!Jy regarded so rhar able-bodied people play with mined to train harder than ever and in­

with pity, scorn, mistrust or complete people with disabilities in a fi.m, coop­ crease its level of play. With support from • A volleyball player indifference. In fact, in many places, erative setting. Thus, sports can be re­ irs sponsor, Cathay Pacific, and singer­ signs autographs people with disabilities are practically garded as an entry point ro working on a songwriter Nanci Griffith, VVAF sent the for Australian schoolgirls. c/o Andy invisible. Making progress on issues such variety of other issues rhar are significant ream to rhe World Cup Games in Eams as accessibility, education and employ­ ro people with disabilities. Slovakia in 200 1. T here, rhe team played ment requi res a shift in attitude toward disability, as well as the adoption and enforcemenr of appropriate policies. In­ clusive and respectful practices must be developed at the family, community and societal levels. Ultimately, for real and lasting .._ change to occur, people with disabilities must themselves demand reform. They with disabilities. VVAF also works in must make themselves visible and insist The Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation's (WAF) Sports for Life seven other war-affected counrries around that their voices be heard. To be effective program gives people with disabilities a chance to come together around the world, running comprehensive reha­ and far-reaching, this movement fo r sports, providing important opportunities for social reintegration. bilitation, education and advocacy pro­ change should be advanced by a unified grams. group of people with all types of d isabili­ by Sarah C. Warren, VVAF gi ng in the streets of Phnom Penh, As VVAF's programs have grown, so ties. T h us, landmine survivors should Cambodia's capital. The appalling living w o has our understanding of how best come wgether with people with other Rehabilitation Redefined conditions and lack of medical treatment w help landmine survivors and other types and causes of disabili ry to share their wirnessed by the returning veterans on people with disabilities return w an ac­ experiences and forge a!Jiances. VVAF's VVAF began implementing pro­ this trip inspired them ro set up the Kien tive life. VVAF has recognized what is new Sports for Life initiative is designed grams for people with war-related dis­ Khleang Rehabilitation Center, which becoming standard thinking among ro help people do just that, ro build a 1 abilities in 1992 in Cambodia. In 1991, stands on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. many rehabilitation organizations work­ bridge between physical rehabilitation on their first trip back w southeast Asia Today, VVAF runs a wral of four reha­ ing in post-war countries: it is nor enough and social reintegration by providing bilitation centers throughout Cambodia, simply w provide a person with an artifi­ since the Viernam War, VYAF's founders people with rhe opportunity to come tO­ had been overwhelmed by the images of as well as the highly successful }oom Noon cial limb or a wheelchair. Add ressing the gether around sports and recreational ac- coundess amputees wandering and beg- sil k weaving cooperative run by people broader emotional, social and economic

Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2002 • 24 • • 25 • 1 Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 6, Iss. 3 [2002], Art. 8

an oursranding rournamenr, narrowly competition for people with disabilities. gold medal to the long list of remarkable program since irs inception, incorporat­ tee and the tennis and basketball federa­ sages is ro begin building a society that is losing irs battle for rhe bronze medal. Three teams from Phnom Penh and five achievements Cambodia's volleyballers ing mine awareness training into soccer tions to organize a major disability sports more accepting and attuned ro the rights The efforts of the volleyballers are from outlying provinces traveled to rhe have already established. clinics and helping youths organize sports and recreation exhibition. After this of people with disabilities. By beginning having a great impact on Cambodian Kien Khleang Center to participate. The In the coming year, VVAF plans to evenrs through which they spread mine event, the sponsors signed a joint procla­ with the youth, we are making an invest­ society, as well as rhe lives of individual first year of the league proved to be a re­ expand irs Spores for Life activities in awareness to their peers. VVAF also mation declaring their commitment to ment in Kosovo's fmure leaders, parents, players. Cambodians take pride in the sounding success. Particularly exciting Cambodia. The national league will be implemented sports activities in isolated developing disability sports and recre­ doctors and caretakers. achievements of their team, while young was the zeal with which former national expanded from eight teams ro 12, and a minority villages, reaching out to some ation programming in Kosovo. people with disabilities are finding new team players set out ro recruit and train new federation will be established to over­ of rhe most disadvantaged youth in the ln May 2002, VVAF kicked off irs A Global Mission role models ro emulate. What is more, new team members. Local businesses, see future development of disabled vol­ province. In 2001, VVAF employed pro­ new Sports for Life initiative in Kosovo, rhe players are demonstrating an unprec­ government leaders and media organiza­ leyball in the country. The national team gram development special ist and wheel­ building on the work done by Houghton. VVAF's goal is to incorporate Sports edented level of self-confidence. T he tions also threw their support behind the will hold a competition against one of irs chair athlete Andrew Houghton to ini­ Through this new initiative, VVAF is for Life into each of its overseas programs ream's coordinator, Chris Minko, noted effort, reAecting a significant change in regional neighbors. Also, VVAF will tiate VVAF's disability sports and recre­ organizing sports and recreation activi­ as a key component of irs work with rhar "some of the players have been seen attitude toward athletes with disabilities implement a training program for irs re­ ation activities in Kosovo. Houghton dis­ ties that bring people with disabilities people with disabilities. ln the coming strutting through rhe streets of Phnom and people with disabilities in general. habilitation staff in order to increase rhe covered a great deal of interest in sports rogerher with able-bodied participants months, VVAF will establish a Sports for Penh wearing shorts and showing off rheir At the end of the league competition, a use of sports and recreational activities throughout the province, bur found that and that unify people from a variety of Life program in Angola, which will fo­ prostheses," a scene rhar would have been selection competition was held and a new within VVAF's rehabilitation centers. Fi­ most groups did not have the equipment, ethnic communities torn apart by con­ cus on creating sports and recreation op­ unimaginable in Cambodia just two shore national team was identified ro play in nally, VVAF will conduct a detailed as­ rraining or information that they needed fli ct. VVAF conducts sporrs clinics and portunities for children. Planning is also years ago. the upcoming Far East Asian (FESPIC) sessment to determine how best to pro­ to develop meaningful programs. For tournaments to introduce participants to under way for Sports for Life activities in In June and July of 2002, VVAF games in Ocrober 2002 in Busan, Korea. more rhe inclusion of people with dis­ example, 80 athletes expressed a desire to new activities and develop their skills and Vietnam and Ethiopia. Throughom the coordinated the first ever national league This newest ream is determined to add a abilities in sports and recreational activi­ compere in wheelchair basketball, but confidence. At the same rime, VVAF is course of this initiative, VVAF will col­ ties at the community level. only 20 spores chairs could be found in helping local disability organizations lect and analyze the experiences of each • Two girls with all of Kosovo. Furthermore, rules for the form Disability Sports Advisory Commit­ project so that the lessons of the past can disabilities fish at a After the Emergency game did not exist in local languages. So tees by providing training and equip­ inform the development of furure reha­ competition on a lake in Kosovo.c/o VVAF translated rules and began provid­ ment. These groups will be responsible bilitation and advocacy programs by Sarah Warren VVAF began irs Kosovo program ing sports equipment to local groups and for implementing activities in their re­ VVAF and other organizations. • after the conclusion of the war in 1999, schools. spective regions throughout Kosovo. In implementing mine/UXO education for VVAF also learned that many the long run, VVAF hopes that these Endnote 90,000 at-risk you rhs and providing peopl e, disabled and non-disabled alike, groups will use their new organizational socio-economic and psychosocial support had never been exposed ro disability skills and nenvorks to tackle other im­ I. VVAF uses rhe name Vererans International in Cam bodia and Angola. to 400 people with war-related disabili­ sports activities and therefore lacked an portant issues beyond sports and recre­ ties and rheir families. These projects re­ und erstanding of what was possible. ation. Contact Information sponded to the immediate needs of post­ Houghton observed that "many people The second major component of this war Kosovo, particularly the need to ad­ didn't even want to try, but after one went new Spores for Life project is disability Sarah C. Warren dress both the threat and consequences our and started to play, the others fol­ awareness training. VVAF's six reams of Vietnam Veterans of America created by landmine/UXO contamina­ lowed. It's typical-people never know cducarors will spend half of their rime Foundation tion. By the end of 2001, though, rhe what it will be like until they get out there educating youth at the secondary school 1725 Eye Street NW mine/UXO threat had been contained and participate." With this in mind, level abom the concerns and rights of Fourth Floor and rhe urgent needs of the survivors met. Houghton organized three wheelchair people with disabilities. Guest speakers Washington, D.C. 20006-2412 l n general, Kosovo was ready to move tennis clinics, facilitated recreational ac­ will be brought in to tell their own sto­ Tel: 202-557-7 535 beyond the emergency phase and em­ tivities for youth and brought together ries of life as a person with a disability in E-mail: [email protected] brace the transition to development. disability organizations, the Department Kosovo. The purpose of reaching our to Website: www.vvaf.org While many organizations withdrew of Sport, the Kosovo Olympic Commit- Kosovo's young people with these mes- from Kosovo ar this stage, VVAF chose to stay and help the Kosovars through rhis very delicate transition period. Although rhe crisis may be over, there remains much work to be done to build a stable democ­ racy and, in particular, to ensure char sur­ vivors and all people with disabilities in­ regrate into a democratic Kosovo. Through a comprehensive new Sports for Life program, VVAF is taking on the chal­ lenge of helping Kosovo build a strong and inclusive civil society. VVAF has actually been implement­ ing sports activities as part of irs Kosovo https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss3/8 • 26 • • 27 • 2