By Luta Pela Paz | Project Staff
In 2005 FFP built the Fight for Peace Sports and Education Centre, a purpose built half a million dollar 700m2 Centre in the favela that houses a fully equipped boxing and martial arts gym, changing rooms, 2 fully equipped classrooms, a computer lab, staff office and a wheel chair lift and toilets to make the building fully accessible. Increased capacity means that the project can now offer activities and services to up to 500 children, young people and adults from the community per semester.
Over 1000 children, adolescents and young people have attended the FFP in Rio de Janeiro since it was established in 2000. 26 participants that had dropped out of school were successfully reintegrated into the formal school system by the project, 15 children and adolescents with difficulties at school given extra tuition and 35 young people given full-time primary level schooling on the TELESALA project in 2006. 1440 citizenship classes have been held by the project to date; topics discussed have included sex-education, family, work, human rights, culture and conflict resolution. 900 home visits have been made by project staff to talk with and offer support services and referrals to families of project beneficiaries. Over 700 food baskets have been awarded to project beneficiaries and members of the community in need. 15 young people from the project have completed job training courses at partner organisations and 28 project beneficiaries have been referred by the project to paid employment positions. 5 young people who were originally beneficiaries on the project are now full-time staff members at the project. FFP has produced two state champion amateur boxers and has hosted 32 boxing shows including the Rio de Janeiro State Championships in partnership with the RJ Boxing League.
Luke Dowdney, the founder of Fight For Peace, won the prestigious Laureus Sport for Good Award in Barcelona this year. Laureus uses the power of sport to help tackle pressing social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives funded and supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Laureus attracts groups of people who share a belief in the power of sport to break down barriers, to engage with others and to change the world for the better. It seeks to inspire hope and positive change for children around the world using sport as a unique social vehicle. It was an amazing honor for Fight For Peace to be recognized by the Laureus Foundation. Please see the link below for a video of the award presentation by actress Eva Longoria.
Building on the success of FFP in Rio de Janeiro and extensive international research into the involvement of children and adolescents in crime, gangs and organised armed groups outside of traditionally defined situations of war, FFP is now aiming to replicate in other communities where young people are adversely affected by and involved in crime, gangs and gun violence. FFP will replicate seed-projects in London (2007), South Africa (2008) and Colombia (2009).
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