Me and my self funded phd

Me and my self-­‐funded PhD Published on September 2, 2016 by Sam Geijer It is out in the open now: I will be doing a PhD on social exclusion of Brazilian athletes with a disability, their inclusion through sports and the impact of the Olympics Games on both topics. The first fieldwork period will start as of the beginning of September and I will remain in Rio de Janeiro until February 2017.

It is kind of strange to say it out loud, mainly due to the insecurity of funds for the 4-­‐year adventure I am embarking on. When my plans became public the reactions were positive and it felt like several people were inspired by my story.

They found it courageous to leave the life I was living, in order to venture off to a far country not knowingly how it would all play out. For me this hasn't proven to be a showstopper andI liked working in tough surroundings with interesting people. For example: •

With Instituto Reação, a social sports initiative in an infamous favela of Rio de Janeiro

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Or with Instituto Benjamin Constant, an institution for visually disabled Brazilian athletes and students

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Or in a Brazilian penitentiary with incarcerated Dutch nationals.

Mister Antonio Tenorio, a visually disabled athlete with a tremendous track-­‐ record, and I in 2013.

I am thus familiar with these voyages and inspired tremendously by the people I met and will meet this time around. My attention to discriminated and excluded target groups is appreciated and with this blog I will try to provide them with a sustainable platform to inspire you as well. I aim to incorporate my work in a bigger picture and to deliver my and their message to a broader audience, via a variety of media.

Due to saying out loud that I was to start with a self-­‐funded PhD project, I stumbled upon several opportunities besides doing field research for my own PhD intentions. As of the beginning of September I will be assisting a Paralympic study trip that is organised by various Dutch Universities. During my five and a half months in Brazil, I will furthermore have a position as affiliate researcher at a Dutch Centre for Research on Sports in Society. I will serve as their eyes and ears in Rio de Janeiro and will keep track of the legacy that is involved with

the Olympic Games. These two activities are quite related to what I will be doing for my PhD research. However since it is a self-­‐funded project and the work I will be doing is on a part time basis, there will be a dent in my bank account. Where some would think that I will be lacking funds, right now I do not see this as a barrier that would stop me. More as an opportunity to strive for more support from the same or other institutions. As of the last month I have been writing a research proposal in order to apply to two scholarships. If the funds will be granted, however will become clear in December of this year. I keep saying that it is unclear how my research will evolve and that I am uncertain how I will manage to make it into a success. These statements though have nothing to do with a lack of dedication or passion for the project, but more with the lack of a crystal ball. The latter fact probably is a recognisable insecurity that we all face on a daily basis, so in that I am not alone. All and all, my mind is set and I have worked hard on my preparation in order to fly to the, marvelous and at the same time contradicting, city of Rio de Janeiro. Please do not be to harsh on my writing, this is my first blog after being inactive for a period of two years. More will follow about life in Rio, my progress in the academic field and about my discriminated and excluded target group.

Abraço,

Sam