Production: Brandsome Author: Boris Werschbizky Broadcasted on: Sport 1 in 2013 Shot on Sony XDCAM HD and Canon 5D MkII
In
February 2013 Producer Bobby Werschbizky invited me
to a promising mission: shooting a behind-the-scenes report during the
prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Rio de Jainero -
which is, to be honest, a very nice job that can be done
straightforwardly. Far more challenging was the second and even
longer shoot he had planned for our trip to Rio: "Luta Pela Paz - Fight
for Peace", a social project situated in the favelas of Complexo da
Maré, one of the biggest group of favelas in the city. A place where
young people are affected by armed violence and isolated by the
invisible barriers of drug trafficking. The fact that, globally, more
young people die as a result of these problems in their communities than
in well known conflict or war zones really blew my mind.
Fight for Peace,
founded by the charismatic social anthropologist and boxer Luke
Dowdney, tries to change all that in a sustainable way: it uses boxing
and martial arts combined with education and personal development to
realize the potential of young people in the communities. The project
follows an holistic, open access philosophy, it offers training on
Boxing, Capoeira, Judo, Jiu Jitsu and sophisticated
educational lessons to young people ranging from 7 to 29 years old. I
really can not tell what has impressed me more, the great achievements
Luke and his awesome team have achieved or the obliging way
our protagonists dealt with us: Antonio "Gibi" Cruz, the boxing coach,
Jarde Lopes, who wants to be a musician one day, the 13 year old Judo
talent Lucas and his charming family. Roberto Custodio, who has put his
tragic childhood behind him and is now a member of the olympic brazilian
boxing team. All of them made our stay at "Luta Pela Paz" an amazing
and inspiring experience I won´t forget.
