Sport for Community – Global Sports Mentoring Program (Egypt)

The programs aim to increase the number of people with disabilities who experience sports’ many benefits: improved mobility and health, greater independence, increased employment, and higher income potential. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related U.S. laws serve as the driving program theme. Participants create action plans to initiate or expand programs that increase sports opportunities for people with disabilities at home and abroad.

For the mentorship component of the exchange, international delegates are matched with American mentors based on areas of focus in disability sports. With entrepreneurship and STEM playing key roles in the expansion of adaptive sports, these mentors work with the emerging leaders on innovative, entrepreneurial action plans that often incorporate STEM. Mentors also connect delegates with a slate of relevant people and organizations.

This program experience provides emerging leaders in disability sports with opportunities to:

• Develop management and business skills that enhance the effectiveness of their efforts;
• Gain exposure to U.S. sport management, media, and non-profit environments;
• Establish lasting relationships with a global network of professionals in the sport sector;
• Share personal backgrounds and expertise with Americans and other delegates;
• Observe an ongoing push in the United States to remove barriers, integrate disability sports, and expand opportunities for persons with disabilities;
• Design an action plan for a project that will contribute to long-term positive change.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be:

• Between the ages of 25 and 45.
• Involved in disability/adapted sport sectors including: Para sport; Special Olympics; deaf sport; coaching; Ministries of Sport; sport for development NGOs, sport marketing, sport journalism, or sport management.
• Able to converse fluently in English (fluency in American Sign Language is required for deaf participants).
• Egyptian citizens.
• Driven to directly improve sports accessibility for people with disabilities in Egypt and beyond.
• On a leadership trajectory in their respective organizations with an interest in developing new partnerships.
• Confident, mature, and self-motivated towards exceptional success.
• Committed to sharing knowledge and acting as a change agent in home communities.
• Willing to take part in a fully immersive mentorship for the full duration of the exchange.
• Willing to participate in social media on the program during and after the exchange.
• Able to take part in a physically demanding and fast-paced five-week program with significant international and domestic travel.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Egypt.