Nine young people from Bristol-based inclusive dance charity Flamingo Chicks took centre stage at the United Nations in New York, making a speech about breaking down barriers to inclusion and a fair future for all children.
Bringing together young people from the UK and the USA, the group shared different communication styles, spoke with confidence and supported one another beautifully.
Katie Sparkes MBE, founder and CEO of Flamingo Chicks, described what it meant to them: “It was so important to have these powerful voices heard.
“Our Agents of Change showed what can happen when young people are given the platform, support and opportunity to lead change, and what true inclusion can look like when disabled and non-disabled children work together as equals.”
After the speech, the group’s global dance project was shown on the UN’s big screens. Delegates from 53 countries watched it, sparking conversations about inclusion around the world.
While in New York, Flamingo Chicks also went on tour, visiting media outlets including NBC News, The Week Junior USA, PIX11 and UNICEF’s Media Team, sharing Flamingo Chicks’ inclusive interviewing guide and techniques. They also met New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Limón Dance Company and the Marionette Theatre to share the organisation’s inclusive dance curriculum and exchange ideas.
On the final day in New York, they worked with Unicef’s disability team and, following the visit, sent a report with recommendations for making the UN Headquarters experience more accessible for disabled visitors.
Flamingo Chicks is now building on the connections made in New York, developing new partnerships and working to turn this remarkable moment into lasting change.
The charity has space for new young people to join the Agents of Change programme, so please get in touch to find out more (www.flamingochicks.org). Open to disabled and non disabled people aged 6-21, they meet monthly on Zoom plus special trips and experiences.
Watch the speech on Flamingo Chicks’ You Tube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/266csjbf