Inside a very unique community in Nuuk. Meet NÛK Handball Starz.
Photo – Oscar Scott Carl – Visit Nuuk
In Nuuk, there is a very special handball team. A small, unique community for children and young people with special needs who have found a haven in the world of handball.
“Hello there,” Maja Hykkelbjerg Nielsen, a volunteer and coach for NÛK Handball Starz, says smiling at Elvira and her friend, who are walking with water bottles and handball shoes in hand, ready for practice. The two 9-year-old girls smile back, climb onto the bench beside Maja, and greet her six-month-old son, Lauge, who is strapped to her front. Elvira proudly introduces her friend, who is attending practice for the first time today. “We are in the same class,” she says. “How wonderful that you both are joining us today,” Maja responds with a smile.
”Here, you can come and join regardless of anything. I don’t need to know what challenges people have.”
Maja Hykkelbjerg Nielsen.
It has to be fun before it can be good
NÛK Handball Starz is a team for children and young people aged 7 to 15 with special needs. The first of its kind in Greenland. Every Saturday morning from 11 AM to 12 PM they gather on Court 2 in Greenland’s largest sports hall, Inussivik, located in central Nuuk to play handball. The team started in 2018, inspired by the same idea as Lykkeliga in Denmark. Maja Hykkelbjerg Nielsen explains:
“The goal is to offer an activity for children and young people with special needs who otherwise don’t have any leisure activities to attend. We also try to play a bit of handball, but it’s not about becoming really good at it. We just want to have fun,” she explains.
Thirteen children have shown up for today’s practice. They sit in a circle in the middle of the court and start with a round of introductions. Some proudly share what they did at school yesterday, while others need a helping hand to say their name loud enough for everyone to hear. The team includes children and young people with various disabilities, from Down syndrome to autism. Additionally, children and young people with other challenges also participate.
“We don’t focus on that. Here, you can come and join regardless of anything. I don’t need to know what challenges people have,” Maja Hykkelbjerg Nielsen explains.
Maja Hykkelbjerg Nielsen has been involved with the team as a volunteer from the start and is one of two regular coaches, playing a crucial role in keeping the team running:
“When I saw the team starting up, I thought it was something I wanted to contribute to. I thought a lot about how there are no other leisure activities they could go to, and I wanted to help create that,” she explains.
“It has to be fun before it’s good” is written on Liv Nuunu’s black hoodie as she dribbles around the handball court. Here, the focus is on having a smile on your face rather than adhering strictly to the rules and lines of the handball court.
”“We don’t have any records of either the number of people with disabilities in Greenland or parasport athletes in the Greenland Sports Confederation. There is no data in this area."
Aviaaja Geisler.
Missing Numbers
In the Greenland Sports Confederation, Aviaaja Geisler is responsible for parasports. In her full-time position, she spends about 40 percent of her time on this area.
“We don’t have any records of either the number of people with disabilities in Greenland or parasport athletes in the Greenland Sports Confederation. There is no data in this area,” she says.
In addition to the lack of data, there are also challenges unique to a country like Greenland. Aviaaja Geisler further explains:
“Another challenge is the infrastructure in Greenland. Additionally, it’s also a question of finances. We really want to create even more activities and courses for coaches and leaders across the coast, and we need more money for tickets, accommodation, and resources.”
Despite the unique challenges, Aviaaja Geisler sees plenty of good examples in local communities. Examples like NÛK Handball Starz, where sports thrive and help create inclusive communities:
“There are lots of great initiatives in the clubs. There are truly some dedicated people out there. We have, for instance, nine participants who will be attending the Special Olympics in May in Frederikshavn. Everything from runners to badminton players. We are really looking forward to that.”
”“It’s absolutely the highlight of the week for Elvira. Here, you don’t have to explain. You just are. And have fun with others who are similar."
Rikke Bjerge - Mom to Elvira.
The Highlight of the Week
Back in the sports hall, the game of tag is over, and the children are engaged in a throwing and catching exercise. The shrill sound of indoor shoes changing direction on the court floor, the deep thud of bouncing balls, and lots of laughter form the soundtrack of the practice. No one is judged for needing a break in the middle of an exercise. Here, everyone participates on their own terms.
On the sidelines, several parents are present to offer support. Rikke Bjerge is the mother of Elvira, who has been part of the team for about three years. Elvira has a chromosomal defect that challenges her movement and requires her to take extra time to understand social cues. NÛK Handball Starz provides an hour of joy that the entire week builds up to. Rikke Bjerge explains:
“It’s absolutely the highlight of the week for Elvira. Here, you don’t have to explain. You just are. And have fun with others who are similar. It’s really tough when there’s a break in the season or if a practice is canceled.”
Besides the joy of the community, the practice also helps develop Elvira’s body movement:
“When Elvira started, she couldn’t dribble a ball at all, so there’s been a lot of progress,” Rikke Bjerge explains as she watches Elvira running and throwing a ball to her friend on the handball court.
The World’s Most Active Country
Currently, the responsibility for running parasports lies with the clubs. Therefore, the Greenland Sports Confederation’s new strategy in this area also emphasizes training coaches and leaders to welcome children and young people into parasports:
“We are creating a course for coaches and leaders about providing a warm welcome so they learn how to receive people with disabilities. This ensures that each individual with a disability feels welcome,” Aviaaja Geisler explains.
The Greenland Sports Confederation has set the ambitious goal of making Greenland the world’s most active country by 2030. This ambition also means increased initiatives in parasports. Future visions are already outlined in an action plan. Aviaaja Geisler explains:
“In the Faroe Islands, they have two full-time employees dedicated solely to parasports. They have athletes participating in numerous tournaments and also host tournaments in the Faroe Islands. Everything is really well organized. We need to draw inspiration from there and other well-functioning countries. We should also have a full-time person in this area. It’s necessary to truly create collaborations in the community and more activities for the target group.”
Jørgen Isak, the other coach for NÛK Handball Starz, gathers the balls before the obligatory closing game: “all my chickens come home.” Jørgen Isak is a popular figure among the children. So popular, Rikke Bjerge says, that Elvira MUST go and greet him when she sees him in town before she can focus on anything else. And if you ask Jørgen Isak himself, the team also gives something back to him:
“I’ve been a coach for many years and for many different teams. But I’ve never enjoyed being a coach as much as I enjoy coaching NÛK Handball Starz. I will never stop with this team,” he says.
