13. Gabriel Mayr (Brazil) - How can we bridge the Global South & Global North power dynamic in Sport for Development?

Inspira | Erika Mueller Chen

Erika speaks to Gabriel about his experiences founding a Brazilian NGO that serves individuals with disabilities, how technology can be used to improve accessibility, and bridging South-North relationships in Sport for Development.

Gabriel Mayr is a Brazilian Physical Education teacher who has worked in Sport for Development and Peace since the first year of university. Working with the Rio de Janeiro blind soccer team introduced him to Paralympic sports. He ultimately went on to co-found Urece Sport and Culture for the Blind, an NGO that promoted several pioneer projects in Brazil, such as the first female blind soccer team and the audio descriptive commentary at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Gabriel has worked as a volunteer in England, earned the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Adapted Physical Activity in Belgium and Czechia, and worked at the UNESCO Chair in Tralee, Ireland. He was also selected to participate in the U.S. Department of State Sports Diplomacy Division’s Global Sports Mentoring Program. These experiences gave him the knowledge of international human rights pacts and documents. Returning to Brazil, Gabriel became a consultant in SDP, supporting organizations that seek to strengthen their use of sport as a tool for social change.

Gabriel’s LinkedIn

Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen

Resources:

1. Urece Sport and Culture for the Blind Facebook & LinkedIn
2. Urece implementing change in Brazil
3. Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on the role of technology in SDP
4. UN DESA’s Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)
5. Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP)
6. GSMP Blog
7. Mundo Para Esporte Podcast (Portuguese)
8. UNESCO Chair LinkedIn, Facebook, Article, Info Sheet
9. Video of 5-a-side soccer (Blind Soccer)
10. One World Play Project

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: February 8, 2023.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. Licensor's Username and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.