From the courts to the communities, Wojtek Czyz and Dhanny Oud’s visit to Papua New Guinea last week was a celebration of empowerment, leadership, and para-athletic possibilities.
Over six exciting days, the duo teamed up with Badminton Papua New Guinea and the Inclusive GymBad team. Together, they worked to grow local para talent and inspire young people to be active.
Para Team Gains Invaluable Insights
The main goal of the visit was to support the Badminton Papua New Guinea Para team as they prepare for the VICTOR Oceania Para Badminton Championships in Bendigo, Australia, this October.
Dhanny, Development Officer at Badminton Oceania, worked with nearly twenty para-athletes. In three fun-filled days, the athletes trained hard on their skills and technique. They worked on footwork, agility, flexibility, and core strength.
Wojtek also immersed himself in the training sessions, teaching athletes how to navigate the court and unlock their potential.
For the players, it was an opportunity to learn about more than just on-court skills.
“I learned about how to be a leader and lead by example,” said Laho Maiauka, member of the Papua New Guinea Para badminton team. “[Dhanny and Wojtek] coming from an international background, from another country, teaching badminton skills gives me confidence to teach the young ones.”
Dhanny also supported local coaches in their growth. He inspired them to share in delivering a few of these sessions. This boosted their understanding of the sport and how to effectively provide lessons.
Inspiring Local Communities
On the first day, Wojtek visited the National Orthotics and Prosthetics Service to provide support and guidance to two para-athletes: Jerome Bunge and Danny Ten.
In an encouraging session, Wojtek discussed prosthetics and the difference it can make to quality of life. Helping Jerome and Danny learn to walk and navigate using them, he hoped to open their eyes to more possibilities.
“It’s all about providing awareness; with it, you are able to live a normal life, and a lot of amputees don’t have this feeling,” Wojtek said.
He took his mission further by reaching out to local communities, including Callan School.
Wojtek has overcome incredible challenges to excel in several sports. Sharing his journey, he encouraged students and staff to pursue their dreams with determination. With his story, he emphasised that with dedication and passion, it is possible to become a Paralympian.
After his speech, he played sports with the kids, including adapted games for those with diverse abilities.
Wojtek teaches the youth at Boera Primary School about prosthetics.
After the impactful session at Callan School, Wojtek’s advocacy journey continued in Boera Village, where he met the students from the local primary school. With the same energy and passion, he reinforced his message of inclusivity. He showed how resilience can change lives. By demonstrating sports like badminton, he revealed how he navigates life with his prosthetics.
Continuing the wave of inspiration, Papua New Guinea’s women para-athletes visited Porebada Village to share their own stories. Their experiences connected with young and old. This built new relationships and helped the community see sport as a way to find strength and togetherness.
Course Equips Youth with Leadership Skills
Over the last two days, Dhanny took to Vabukori Village with GymBad Coach Paul Morea. For the first time in Papua New Guinea, they launched the Shuttle Time Youth Leadership Course (YLC).
Shuttle Time YLC helps young people build sports leadership and badminton skills. This way, they can offer fun, safe, and inclusive badminton lessons to younger kids.
The Shuttle Time Youth Leadership Course participants.
Several of the youth at the course play badminton for fun in their communities, so the mix of theory and practical aspects helped the teenagers to gain confidence and share the sport with those around them.
“It was awesome to see the interest from everyone to get involved and take their learnings back to share the sport with their communities,” said Dhanny. “Everyone was super invested in spreading the love of the sport.”
Turning Potential into Possibilities
Last week marked a significant step forward, building on the solid groundwork set by Inclusive GymBad and Badminton Papua New Guinea.
For the team facilitating the sessions, it was an opportunity to create meaningful connections with individuals wanting to get involved in badminton. For the players, it ignited a sense of excitement and hope for what is possible.
“Our visit focused on preparation for the VICTOR Oceania Para Championships, so I really hope to see some of them in Australia, and that our sessions provided help to them,” said Wojtek. “We are excited for them. Badminton Oceania is investing manpower and money so they can get that chance to succeed.
“When you talk to people and they see they actually have that chance, it can make all the difference.”
