Some of the pupils still communicate regularly with the Dutch athletes Elisabeth Willeboordse and Marleen Veldhuis, mainly through Facebook. And those pupils in particular still see the judoka and swimmer as role models to this day. Without such permanent personal contacts, however, the long-term impact on the pupils is limited. Looise and Ruijs therefore recommend providing clinics for a limited number of pupils, which would make it possible to establish more intensive contact with the participants. One could also choose to remain at one school for a longer period of time instead of going to a different school every day. Looise and Ruijs say that it is about choosing whether to reach a large number of 58 > GEO project / friendship, respect and excellence pupils in one go or to have a greater impact in the longer term. It emerges clearly from interviews with a number of former students that they are extremely grateful for the opportunities that the GEO schooling has given them. An unforgettable time, they say. Some have done so well in their sport that they have won scholarships to private schools, while others are now attending mainstream state schools. Those schools, the students say, do not recognise the importance of sport, which they experience as a definite loss. ‘Sport shows you the difference between right and wrong, teaches you the importance of keeping to the rules and respecting each other. I apply all that in my everyday life,’ one of the pupils said in an interview with Looise and Ruijs.
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