The Republic center for Support of Persons with Intellectual Disability – PORAKA, in the period from 27th of June till 1st of July 2011 and between 19 – 22 September 2011, in the Center for Education of the Red Cross “Solferino” in Struga organised and conducted two sports and recreational activities for the beneficiaries of the Day centers of PORAKA from Skopje, Radovis and Ohrid.
The Sports and recreational activities provide large number of different possibilities: development of the sense of and spirit for competition among the persons with intellectual disability; the experience of being a part of a sports team and thereto feel the unity in the team; motivation for competition and victory, but at the same time to experience and cope with being defeated in sport games.
On the other hand, these activities present good opportunity for the personnel of the Day Centers to be 24 hours together with the beneficiaries, providing them to understand the rhythm of living and behavior of each person with intellectual disability. Furthermore, the observation of the beneficiaries in a new environment, without parental influence, offers the personnel new insights regarding the possible improvements of the independence and self-esteem among the beneficiaries and the unselfish support and friendly behavior between themselves, which cannot be perceived during the activities in the Day Centers. Moreover, these activities also provide opportunities for improvement of the personal hygiene skills, social interactions skills etc.
The sports activities were divided in the following disciplines: athletics (competitions in running and long jump), matches in soccer, basketball and rope pulling.
The recreational part of the programe included different creative workshops, social games, walks along the Ohrid lake Riviera and visits to City of Struga and its sights, as well as parties with music and dancing in the evenings. In the afternoons, when the weather allowed, recreational activities on the Solferino’s beach were organised. Important benefit from the realization of the sports and recreational activities is that the personnel in the Day Centers of the Republic Center – PORAKA has the opportunity to perceive significant information regarding the behavior of the beneficiaries outside the Day Center, which is of enormous importance for their further work within the individual activities with the beneficiaries and improvement of their independent living skills.
