CHILDREN & YOUTHS
Candidates are from underprivileged areas between the ages of 11-17 years old. They must be enrolled in our Martial Arts training to participate.
ACTIVITIES
Daily local classes of Martial Arts; Training hard to compete in the local and international tournaments. English Classes to be prepared to compete in the USA.
GOAL
Helping children to keep practicing Martial Arts to stay away from drugs and crimes and in the future they will become champions and professors in the Martial Arts context.
- Emergency food & supplies
- Airfare
- Residence for the program participants while in the U.S.
- Meals
- Transportation
- Competition Entry Fees local and International
- Costs with the Martial Arts center in the favela (slum)
- An incentive for the adolescent and his/her family (Some of these families literally can’t afford to let their children leave as the children themselves are sometimes a source of income for the family. If we can slightly incentives the program for participants, the family can justify letting the adolescent participate.)
An incentive for the children and his/her family such a food, clothes, shoes, uniforms, and medical care.
FOR EVERY $25 YOU DONATE, we can supply a hungry family with a food basket containing basic food items for an entire month.
Airfare, Visa, Residence for the program participants while in the US, meals, transportation, local and international competition entry fees.
“By the time these children return, they will have a completely different outlook on life. They will inspire other children from their neighborhood, and in so doing will incite positive change and progress for this new generation. They will be better prepared for the job market, having not only trained intensively in Martial Arts but also learning English and being exposed to the culture of other countries, thereby making them more valuable to any prospective employer in the future.” – Rodrigo Carvalho
We believe that by showing these young people a different side of life, primarily that inspired by the ethos that so many of us enjoy in the United States, we will mitigate their chances of falling victim to the incredible challenges facing children being raised in the favelas. By bringing what they’ve learned home, we believe these children will influence their own friends and families created a ripple effect of much-needed goodwill.
The sports of Martial Arts has experienced a boom internationally, and the sport is only growing. Just as soccer changed the lives of some of our greatest sports heroes who also came from humble beginnings, Brazilian Martial Arts does the same. However, to facilitate this we need the infrastructure in place: instructors, a training facility, uniforms, even food, as many of these kids cannot afford to eat.
For the children, this opportunity comes at the cost of the competition. The discipline a person gets from competing is priceless. When someone gives everything they have on the mat, regardless of whether they win or lose, they leave knowing that they’ve done what 99% of others haven’t. They’ve given everything for the chance to be something greater. Therefore, our instructors will be of the highest caliber, assisting these children at every turn, standing beside them as they strive to become more than they could have ever imagined.
SUPPORT A CHILD IN NEED