Success Stories

Raiaan Khan, a 23-year-old athlete from Dhaka, was born with Down syndrome. Raised in a strict but immensely loving atmosphere, Raiaan spent her early life with her mother. Her mother is an executive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, following the loss of her father in her 16th year. Although her family was supportive and encouraging at home, the world outside was typically brutal.

In Bangladesh, where intellectual disability is rooted in stigma, Raiaan’s story is the narrative of the struggles and silence of many young people who exist on the margins.Throughout her childhood, Raiaan was rejected, bullied, and isolated not due to poverty, but due to her disability. In school and within her neighborhood, she was often made to feel different and, more often, she was made invisible. Children taunted her speech, her movements, and even her dreams. Family functions were agonizing, as even relatives preferred ignoring her.

For Raiaan, these challenges were not just personal; they were a reflection of a larger social issue of a failure to understand and accept people with intellectual disabilities. For Special Olympics Bangladesh, her story highlights the need to have programs that provide not just sports training but dignity, community, and hope.

But her progress was thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Abrupt halt to training, being separated from other gymnasts, and removal of routine took a heavy toll on her mental well-being. Raiaan pulled back and lost focus, and it seemed that the spark within her was fading. In 2024, SO Bangladesh’s PERF project reignited her hope. Designed to resume training after the pandemic, PERF returned Raiaan to routine training and her beloved community. Determined, she pushed herself week by week, slowly regaining her confidence and capability.

Six months of rigorous training made Raiaan eligible to participate in the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce Competition (SOAP) in India. Winning the gold medal was not merely a personal triumph but a symbol of national glory. She not only succeeded against physical odds but against societal disbelief, the shadow of isolation, and the deafening silence of exclusion.

For Raiaan, the medal was important, but the friendships were priceless. “I love my Bocce friends,” she said, smiling, with tears in her eyes at a training camp. “They know me. We laugh, we dance together. I feel like I have a large family now.”Raiaan’s story is a powerful reminder that everyone, regardless of ability, has a spark within them waiting to be fanned by love, chance, and a sense of belonging. Today, her life is characterized by routine, happiness, and purpose. Her mornings begin with exercise, home training, and regular Bocce practice. Her mother, once despairing and isolated, now stands tall, fighting for inclusion and is part of a special group of the Special Olympics.

Raiaan’s message to families resonates with the Special Olympics message:

“Never give up. Every child has something special inside. With love and the right support, they can shine like stars.”

Her path is not simply a personal victory; it’s a beacon of what is possible when inclusion becomes action.In Bangladesh, where intellectual disability is rooted in stigma, Raiaan’s story is the narrative of the struggles and silence of many young people who exist on the margins.Throughout her childhood, Raiaan was rejected, bullied, and isolated not due to poverty, but due to her disability. In school and within her neighborhood, she was often made to feel different and, more often, she was made invisible. Children taunted her speech, her movements, and even her dreams. Family functions were agonizing, as even relatives preferred ignoring her.