By Alfonso Fernández Urbano, 2nd year baccalaureate student
A few days ago the school received a group of 6 people with intellectual disabilities from the Down Syndrome Foundation and other disabilities of the Basque Country (FSDPV). This activity, which had not been held since 2019 due to the pandemic, aimed to bring Gaztelueta students closer to the world of functional diversity and inclusion through something as simple as a football match. The day was a success, everyone enjoyed a good day outdoors sharing smiles.
The activity took place thanks to the 3rd ESO students who accompanied the invited group from their arrival to the metro until their return. In addition to the game, they ate together in the dining room and showed them around the school. Their patience, generosity and understanding were key throughout the day, as well as the support of the Foundation's monitors. But for them there were also important rewards (as well as donuts to thank them); they had the privilege of seeing first hand how valuable and satisfying it is to be able to help and that our prejudices only take us further away from reality:
"Apart from being very happy to be able to help people with disabilities, it made me learn. I saw people with Down's Syndrome as different, bad; and I realised that they were not and that with a little help you can make someone like Edu or Inazio very happy" (P), "I am also happy to see them happy" (P.V.).
It was a very special day, both for the boys and girls of the Foundation, who ended up beaming with joy, and for the children of Gaztelueta, who were truly the ones who benefited the most. We can conclude from this day that at the end of the day, the fact that we are all different makes us all the same. And that is wonderful.
