Turnstone To Host International Delegates From the Global Sports Mentoring Program

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (April 19, 2024) – For the 6th year since 2016, Turnstone is proud to be a part of the 2024 Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP). The GSMP has been an initiative of the U.S. Department of State since 2012 that aims to empower under-served populations through sport-based mentor-ship through their Sport for Community program. This year, Turnstone will host delegates from Switzerland and Indonesia.

As part of the exchange, established sports leaders from around the world train with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Sport, Peace, and Society during an opening week of curriculum and integrated learning activities. Participants are then sent to host organizations around the country for an immersive, multi-week mentorship where the delegates craft strategic plans of action; at the conclusion, the delegates travel to Washington, D.C., to present their plans for using sport in creative ways to address challenges facing persons with disabilities in their home communities.

“We have witnessed the international ripple effect that begins during our time here in Fort Wayne with the delegates each year,” said Tina Acosta, Director of Outreach at Turnstone Center. "It’s a privilege for Turnstone Center to come alongside global leaders who are committed to expanding adaptive sports and ensuring inclusion for individuals with disabilities back in their home countries.”

Among the 16 participants in the 2024 program, the following will be hosted by Turnstone in Fort Wayne from April 18 to May 4, 2024:

• - Bea Stadler (Switzerland) – Stadler is dedicated to an inclusive society in Switzerland by developing and sustainably implementing innovative strategies for inclusive sports programs. As an active athlete on the Swiss women’s wheelchair basketball team and National Project Manager for Special Olympics in Switzerland, Bea knows first-hand the challenges and successes associated with participating in disability sports. As National Project Manager for Special Olympics, she and her team are responsible for the development and sustainable implementation of three new projects to promote inclusive sports in Swiss schools. Bea hopes that with the innovative strategies she will gain from her experience during the GSMP, she can further raise awareness of the importance of inclusive sports
• - Annisa Pratiwi (Indonesia) - As a Gender, Disability, Social Inclusion (GEDSI) advocate, Pratiwi amplifies the voices of underserved communities in Indonesia. With over a decade of experience in the media landscape, including roles at NET. TV (ESPN FC Indonesia & Lentera Indonesia), Kompas Daily, and the Poverty Data Management team at the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction through Social Welfare Center, Annisa has mastered skills in broadcasting media, advocacy, and community empowerment to help reach her goals. Inspired by her passion for inclusivity, Annisa founded the Pratiwi Sportiva Learning Center, which empowers women, youth, and individuals with disabilities through inclusive sports programs. Annisa is excited to learn about how to best implement effective strategies in creating accessible sports environments, promoting gender equality, and integrating individuals with disabilities into various sports activities.

To learn more about The Global Sports Mentoring Program, you can go to their website here: https://globalsportsmentoring.org/