The Peer Buddies club participated for the first time in a Special Olympics field day hosted by Estes Hill Elementary School on May 24.
The club has a mission to spread inclusion within the school community and create a community that everyone feels comfortable and supported in.
Special Olympics of North Carolina works to provide sports training and athletic competition in a variety of different sports for children and/or adults with any types of disabilities.
Junior and co-president Tessa Wall said the club strived to achieve inclusivity through participation in the event.
“This event was a way for Peer Buddies to engage with other schools in town while aiming to provide a friendly environment where everyone feels like they belong and can make friends,” she said.
Junior and co-president Julia DePinto said club members monitored the Estes Hills students and celebrated their participation at the event’s conclusion.
“At Estes Hill, everyone who attended the event from Peer Buddies was assigned a sports station outside in the courtyard. The kids from Estes Hill played at each station and were given awards at the end,” she said.
The stations included basketball and soccer scrimmages, as well as obstacle courses and balancing activities.
Junior and Peer Buddies member Tulsi Asokan explained the importance of reaching out in the community.
“The field day was so much fun while also allowing us to get more involved in the community. The Special Olympics of North Carolina does such an impressive job bringing sports to everyone,” she said.
The Peer Buddies club hopes to continue its participation with The Special Olympics of North Carolina in upcoming years.
“I have always dreamed of getting this club more involved with The Special Olympics of North Carolina. This event helped to get involved with them and bring about new opportunities for the club next year. We will definitely participate in this event again,” Wall said.
