Handysplash: inclusion as we go along
On Saturday 2 May, the Handynamique charity organised the 5th edition of Handysplash. A morning dedicated to water sports, bringing together 42 children and teenagers with disabilities alongside able-bodied children, supervised by the island’s sports clubs.
The fifth edition took place, for once, at Friar’s Bay, as Le Galion had to be ruled out due to the lack of sargassum clearance. But this did nothing to dampen the spirit of the morning, which was all about sharing, hard work and fun. On the sand and in the water, 42 children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 with disabilities discovered or rediscovered water sports alongside able-bodied children. This inclusivity lies at the heart of Handynamique’s approach; since its inception, the organisation has worked to build natural bridges between young people, transcending differences. Behind the apparent simplicity of this convivial occasion, however, lies the significant involvement of all the association’s volunteers, as well as the support of lifeguards from the Association des Premiers Secours (AFPS 978), swimming instructors, and the island’s sports clubs. For this latest edition, the Saint-Martin Football League, KKO Beach Tennis, the Friar’s Bay Sailing Club—which generously lent its kayaks—and, for the first time, the Friendly Longe-Côte club all came together. Together, they offered a variety of accessible workshops tailored to everyone’s abilities.
The sea as a space of equality
The young participants came from schemes such as SESSAD (Special Education and Home Care Services), the CMP (Medical-Psychological Centre) and ULIS classes, which facilitate the inclusion of pupils with disabilities within mainstream schools. But in the water, differences fade away. The aim of Handysplash is not performance, but the experience: playing, trying things out, pushing oneself sometimes, but above all having fun. These are moments that strengthen relationships, change perceptions and remind us that sport is a wonderful vehicle for inclusion. Chaired by Aurélie Soucy, the Handynamique association has made these gatherings a much-anticipated event for children and their parents. Handysplash is, in fact, one of the three highlights of the year, alongside Handysport and Handyculture. The primary aim of these events is to make our society more inclusive and to enable these young people, whatever their backgrounds or abilities, to share common experiences. Building connections, encouraging spontaneous interaction, helping everyone find their place… at Friar’s Bay on Saturday morning, inclusion wasn’t just a concept. It was a lived reality.
