Fight for Peace

‘Fight for Peace’ founder Luke Dowdney, himself a gifted boxer, took the timeworn concept of the ‘noble art’ and its redemptive values to its toughest testing grounds, the gang dominated streets of Rio De, its culture a vicious circle of drug-dealing, gun-running and early death. In this urban war zone Luke created the Fight for Peace Sports and Education Centre in 2000 giving boys and girls from the Complexo da Maré, a safe haven, a shelter where they could participate in sporting activities. It began as a boxing academy but now also provides training in wrestling and Capoeira and is thriving as it offers Rio’s youth an alternative lifestyle to street crime through sporting achievement, education, access to the job market and the promotion of a culture of peace.

The Brazilian initiative found acclaim Worldwide and with boxing shown as a force for good in one of the World’s toughest environments, it gave Luke Dowdney the opportunity to bring things full circle by putting the same ‘Fight for Peace’ structure in place in the heart of London. He chose Woolwich, rich with its own boxing tradition. What sets ‘Fight for Peace’ apart from previous initiatives is its structure, based around ‘the five pillars’ an inter-related series of activities that go on within the academies. These five tenets ensure that the sporting elements combine with the social initiatives and awareness but the over-riding point of the centre in Woolwich is that “the kids have “a place where they feel they can be”. That said, the competition element is important to Luke because he says that success proves a lot to the young people- “we take anyone but can still produce champions, that’s something for them to aspire to. We do want excellence as well because it’s important to tell the rest of the World and the kids coming through.”

Boxing initiative Fight for Peace officially launches at Seni08 and its patron Barry McGuigan will be hosting a press conference at 10.30 am on the Saturday (26th) in the Boulevard bar to promote the launch. The Clones Cyclone had this to say about Fight for Peace- "I am delighted to be part of this life-changing initiative and launch. Boxing is a wonderful way of teaching these young teenagers discipline, self-respect and respect for others while channelling their natural aggression in safe environment.  Fight for Peace is an opportunity for youngsters to punch their way into something better."