Project outcomes

The academic papers

Paralympics as a tool for communication for social change: Audience perceptions, affect and the social change potential in rural Malawi.  J Akambadi, J Noske-Turner, M Magalasi.  Media & Jornalismo 23 (42), 107-123.

Paralympic Broadcasting in Sub-Saharan Africa: Production Politics and the Reimagined Postcolonial. E Pullen, M Magalasi, J Noske-Turner Media, Culture & Society, 01634437231225033.

Paralympic broadcasting in sub-Saharan Africa: sport, media and communication for social change. J Noske-Turner, E Pullen, M Magalasi, D Haslett, J Tacchi Communication & Sport 10 (5), 1001-1015.

Making the Paralympics Malawian. J Noske-Turner, E Pullen, M Magalasi, J Tacchi (in progress).

Case studies

Growing a Para Sport Ecosystem in Malawi. Throughout the project, a Para sport ecosystem developed in Malawi. Shifting stigma through coordinated strategies in media, community engagement and sport development is beginning to influence national systems and politics around disability inclusion.

Paralympic Games coverage can’t be the only asset. Ground softening, local events and Para athletes are key to community engagement. It is important to use the periods between Games for engagement and perception change. See Unlocking the potential of the Paralympics and Evidence brief on engaging communities in Para sport in Malawi.

Making Noise Malawi. Making Noise is a practical tool developed from action research in Malawi that experimented with community engagement approaches for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.  This case study explores how the toolkit was piloted around the African Union Region 5 Youth Games held in 2022 in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Malawi Para Games. The first ever Para Games was held in Malawi in 2023. This case study explores the approach taken and the impact it's had on the local Para sport ecosystem.

Impact stories

Para athletes are powerful role models especially for parents of disabled children, but need to be empowered to tell their story, their way. See more about Emmanuel Nii Tettey Oku and Tahiru Haruna.

Narratives of Nelia Majawa, parent, and Thokozani Kanyungu, teacher. The powerful story of hope, resilience, and the transformative impact of Para sports emerges.

Innovative approaches

Five quick wins

The project demonstrated that broadcasting the Paralympic Games is a powerful method for stigma reduction. Future centralised broadcast strategies could increase social change outcomes by taking onboard the five quick wins.

Making Noise Toolkit

Action research around the grounding the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games broadcast highlights in Malawi led to the formation of the Making Noise Tool.

Localised I'mPOSSIBLE

Local versions of I'mPOSSIBLE toolkits were created in Malawi, Ghana and Zambia. The adaptation process allowed for inclusion of local athlete case studies, history of their national Paralympic Movement and translation.

National Para games Pilot

The project innovated around Malawi's first ever national Para Games in July 2023 and the second edition in Dec 2023. This case study is a powerful example of how national competitions can be positioned to drive disability inclusion.