PROPARCO and Défi Intégration

PROPARCO and Défi Intégration

The challenge Défi Intégration aims at promoting the integration of disabled people in teams.

 

A human challenge

Défi Intégration is first and foremost a human challenge that the Jolokia’s crew is about to take up. The crew aspires to be the first mixed crew, composed of able-bodied and disabled sportsmen at exact parity to win a sailing oceanic record. In September 2010, three handicapped sailors and three able-bodied sailors will take to the sea for the Spice Odyssey aboard Jolokia. The sailboat was fitted to the handicapped crew members so that they could enjoy safely their autonomy in the steerage of the ship. The crew will try to cover the 9000 nautical miles between the island of Groix and Mauritius. This challenge was initiated so as to promote the professional integration of disabled people through an improved access to the practice of sports sailing.

A sports challenge

 

Défi Intégration is also a sports challenge that the mixed crew, composed of handicapped and able-bodied sailors, wishes to take up aboard Jolokia. The Spice Odyssey is a historic sailing oceanic record listed at the World Sailing Speed Record Council. The 9000 miles crossing links the island of Groix to Mauritius via Cape of Good Hope.

A technical challenge

A sailing boat was entirely adapted to the needs of the handicapped crew members. The sailors can steer autonomously while satisfying to safety requirements established for sailing races. Jolokia is a 50 feet open sailboat which was fitted to meet the needs of disabled crew members. The sailboat combines autonomy, safety and performance requirements. Indeed, the autonomy of crew members is imperative in this project so that everybody could move along and actively take part in the steerage of the sailboat.

Committed partners

 

Défi Intégration is supported by handicap missions of Proparco, AFD, Total, TF1, and Lafarge. The French Navy assists the Défi on logistics and safety aspects.

Passing by Cape of Good Hope, the Défi Intégration team thanked PROPARCO.