Phillip Lunga

Background

About Phillip Lunga

I am the past President and CEO of the University of New Brunswick Graduate Student Association. A 6th year Doctor of Philosophy candidate at the University of New Brunswick in Interdisciplinary Studies with Disability, Sports Management and Sociology as the major disciplines since January2019. My thesis is on participation and social inclusion through sport for people with intellectual disabilities (PWID). In as much as the de-institutionalization of people with mental health issues started in the early sixties with the goal of reintegration them into their communities, there remain on the peripherals of society in Canada and have high risks of homelessness, abuse, sexual violence, criminalization, poverty, unemployment. In as much as the Canadian government has outlined noble policies in line with the stated charters and ratifications, there is lack of evidence that people with intellectual disabilities have benefited from sport as outlined in the (UNCRPWD) article (30) that guarantees the right for PWIDs to participate in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport. The research seeks to understand the gap in knowledge between policy design, implementation, and evaluation in the context of participation and social inclusion through sport for PWID. Initiative leadership 1. Personal (Advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion) Key volunteer at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi and was awarded a certificate in recognition of my voluntary, work. In June 2022 and June 2023 I worked at the Special Olympics National Games and World games respectively in Berlin, Germany. 2.Treasurer for The Multicultural Association of Fredericton (MCAF) Board of Directors Following the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, MCAF is an organization upholds the tenets of this act by offering resettlement services to new immigrants to Fredericton. Awarded certificate by City of Fredericton for participating and developing recommendations in an anti-racism task force. 4.Research Assistant for World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) global project and responsible for data collecting, from National Sport Organizations (NSO’s) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) in Canada as well as the United Kingdom. 5.Research Assistant Sport Information Resource Centre,(SIRC)(January 2024-Present) qualitative research addressing racial inequity and DEI in Canadian National Sports Teams, To understand national policies and programs that address diversity, equity and social inclusion in National Sport Organizations. 6.Chair Mental Health Committee UNB GSA