Youth Summit 2025 hosts Special Olympics Bharat-Nagaland

The Youth Summit 2025, hosted by Special Olympics Bharat-Nagaland (SON) in collaboration with St. Mary’s Montessori Higher Secondary School (SMMHSS), Dimapur marked a vibrant celebration of inclusion, leadership and unity. The event brought together special athletes, educators, parents and youth leaders in a powerful demonstration of community spirit and advocacy.
Chief guest SDO (Civil), Wiridin, representing the Deputy Commissioner, lauded SON’s longstanding commitment to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities. In his address, he pledged full support to the movement and urged society to “humble ourselves to serve those ignored by society.”
From the Special Olympics Bharat National Office, resource persons Aditi and Yashika—a youth leader with intellectual disability delivered inspiring sessions. Highlights included reflections from the World Games, athlete-led activities, and a roundtable discussion with teachers and parents. Their message was clear: inclusion is not charity, but justice. Yashika’s personal journey stood as a testament to the transformative power of opportunity.
The summit also saw the democratic election of three athlete leaders, three mentors, and three youth leaders who will represent Nagaland in the upcoming NYIC and NAIC online national training programmes. However, the planned summit in Kohima was cancelled due to safety concerns.
SON proudly spotlighted the achievements of Nagaland’s special athletes, who have earned over 130 medals at national and international competitions often outperforming mainstream athletes from the state. Despite their talent and enthusiasm, participation in national events has been hindered by the lack of travel reimbursements post-pandemic.
A special tribute was paid to SMMHSS, the first school in Nagaland to welcome children with special needs. SON recalled the historic moment when two of its students represented India at the 2013 Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Games in Australia.
The Area Director of SON expressed heartfelt gratitude to president of Special Olympics Bharat, Dr. Mallika Nadda, resource persons, participating schools, NGOs, families and donors. Above all, appreciation was extended to the dedicated SON team, which has worked tirelessly and without remuneration since 2009 to advance the mission of Special Olympics in the region.