In the ring for peace

Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janeiro. A sprawling urban complex, a jig-saw of communities built informally, marred by poverty, marked by exclusion and the presence of armed gangs. That is where, back in 2001 the Fight for Peace Sports and Educational Center (CEELPP in the Portuguese acronym) was born. It all began in a small room barely big enough to accommodate citizenship classes. Now it celebrates the first year of its own premises, with a full day of events held August 30th, a day when many also found themselves celebrating a new life.

Fight for Peace is open to all, a place where hospitality comes first. Youths interested in joining the center need not be currently enrolled in school, but it is essential that they eventually go back to their studies. The Fight for Peace method includes sports, citizenship, education, work and fostering leadership skills among youths.

The use of boxing as a calling card may sound unusual, but it is well justified by project coordinator, anthropologist and former boxer Luke Dowdney: “Sports lets off steam, it helps youths deal with the adrenaline. It is also one-on-one combat that leaves no victims, it helps youths take a leading role in their own lives without creating a sense of invincibility or victimization.”

You have to be 14 or older to box, but teens and younger kids are not left out at Fight for Peace. They can take capoeira or wrestling at the CEELPP, as well as citizenship classes, a cornerstone of the project from its beginnings.

There are today close to 200 youths involved with the Center, many as students and others, who have been with it for longer, as leaders and instructors. We talked to four of these youths, and learned of their lives and the trajectory of Fight for Peace.

Roberto Custódio, age 19, at Fight for Peace since 2001

Roberto’s involvement with Fight for Peace began back in the days when the center rented a small room at the local residents’ association, when boxing classes were shared space at a local gym, and they had to do without a fan during practice.

Citizenship classes had to take turns with wakes and religious ceremonies for room, but no one felt they could do without it. “The citizenship classes helped me change the mindset of many who come here intent on learning to box to fight on the streets”, said Roberto.

That type of behavior is severely punished at Fight for Peace. Whenever fights are reported to instructors youths run the risk of being suspended, or even being expelled. “Over time most members see boxing more as a form of defense than attack,” added Roberto.

From working at a video store to coaching assistant at the Fight for Peace, Roberto saw his life turn around once he joined the project. In April 2006, he traveled to Northern Ireland, leaving Brazil for the first time, and became a winning boxer. “If it weren’t for Fight for Peace, I wouldn’t even know where Northern Ireland was,” Roberto said playfully.

Roberto, like all youths, wants to be many things. “I have thought of being a professional boxer, a coach, or to join the army,” he said, adding “But I want to fly jet fighters, I don’t want to use firearms.”

Sinval Cordeiro, 27 years old, at Fight for Peace since 2002

Sinval got to know CEELPP through three friends of his who lived at the community and took boxing classes. He first joined the project at 22, and, in his own words “I had already been through pretty much everything that youths from poor communities go through.”

But not quite everything. The sports center is also an option for those who come from similar backgrounds to Sinval’s, they have stopped going to school, are unemployed and feel that their lives are going nowhere.

He surprised himself when he discovered budding leadership skills. He is a member of fight for peace’s youth council, and along with the social workers, helps youths stay in the project. “When we find people are dropping out I go along with the social worker to the student’s home and we try to find out why that kid has been absent, Sinval explains. “I live here since I was born, and I know many of kids personally, and their families, and it helps.”

Sinval’s leadership is not solely based on the fact he was born at Maré, but it also springs from his development as a student boxer, his dedication, and his interest in the Fight for Peace methodology.

Before working at Fight for Peace he had been selected through the project to work as an intern for six months in a multinational. “When I started out they showed me it was possible to succeed in a different way. I went back to school, and associated myself to sports and education,” said Sinval.

Daniel dos Santos, 18 years old, at Fight for Peace since 2003

He was introduced to Fight for Peace for a friend and admits if left to his own resources he would certainly not be there. Before joining Fight for Peace, Daniel describes himself as a rebellious, aggressive and undisciplined boy. Two years of the boxing discipline and citizenship classes gave his life a new sense, said the photographer.

‘I would get involved with bad things and I now know I would probably be dead or in prison if I weren’t here”, Daniel admits.

After two years of training at the center Daniel met the photographer Kita Pedroza at an event, and credits her with awakening his interest in photography. Daniel has since been taking advanced photography courses

Manuela Lopes, 20 years old, Fight for Peace since 2003

The CEELPP was all male until 2003. Manuela was part of the first female class and is proof that diversity is always a plus. She was the first woman to fight representing the center, and her success today is an inspiration to many young girls who join the center.

Manuela has a 5 year old son whose father is also a member of the CEELPP. The little boy struts around the rink like it is his home, with a love of boxing in his blood. “I would really like him to follow in mine and his father’s footsteps,” said Manuela adding, ‘but I think that as a mother I would not like to see him taking a beating,” laughing, knowing she could overcome her fears.

Manuela said that, like many boys, she joined the boxing classes because she wanted to learn to throw a punch. “I was not, let’s put it this way, a very friendly girl. I was really into fighting,” she admits. “Boxing taught me to act in a disciplined way and calmly, and the citizenship classes helped me exercise conflict resolution through dialogue.”

Manuela said she was very nervous during her first fight, but nowadays knows exactly what she wants. “After I came here I decided I wanted to go back and finish school, and nowadays I train to become a professional boxer.”

Photos: D. Soares (cover, capoeira, Sinval); Emilie Reiser (boxing, Manuela)

Click here for the Fight for Peace Photo Gallery.

Read Further: www.lutapelapaz.org.br