“The 9th Friendship Walk for inclusion of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities was achieved with great success”
For the 9th year, the Best Buddies Friendship Walk of the non-profit association Best Buddies Greece, was conducted under the auspices of the municipality of Athens, with great success. Saturday the 12th of October 2024 young people, adults, volunteers, buddies with and without disabilities celebrated together inclusion, social acceptance and friendship for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
At Syntagma square everyone had the chance to visit our booths, to be informed about the association and to get involved with the Best Buddies Greece team and engage with others for the great friendship walk.
The Ambassadors team of the organization, 6 persons with developmental difficulties, spoke to the participants about their experience in Best Buddies Greece, they presented themselves and their achievements, and they invited all the citizens to join the organization’s activities for the inclusion of people with disabilities.
The volunteer buddies were present from early morning and throughout the event, fun music, provided by Οpanda with its equipment, boosted the mood of the participants. Then the teams took action, and the team of Capoeira Athens, got the people to get up and include themselves in their special way of art, dance and expression. The Quilombo Team, for one more year gave their pulse to start the 9th Friendship Walk with the support of the Rescue Team Delta and the help of the Volunteer Team of Kaisariani. Ermou street was full of people, colors and labels with quotes such as love, inclusion, volunteerism, acceptance and equality. Afterall the purpose of the friendship walk is the promotion of the message that “With every step together, we change lives”, supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Once we arrived at Monastiraki Square, the number of people who were following our group during the entire walk had increased. Together with all the teams and participants closed this special day with one big hug and with the hope for a society without discrimination and the exclusion of the people with disabilities.
We are happy and thankful for the great support of the volunteers and walkers, for the great support of the municipality of Athens, the companies and the love of all those who participated in our event.
For one more year, the Best Buddies Friendship Walk took place at Syntagma Square, under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens with the great support of EYDAP S.A. (sponsor of the event), STOP Personal Protective Equipment, Opanda, AB Basilopoulos, Colgate, Naturals, Intersport-Fourlis, the teams Rescue Team Delta and volunteer Team of Kaisariani, online radio station OnlyMusic for the promotion of the event.
See the photos of the 9th Friendship Walk HERE
