Fight to build yourself up
This project's parent organization is Nanterre Club Universitaire
It operates in France
It uses Indigenous games
Entered the Best New Project
More about Fight to build yourself up
This project takes place within the sports club of Nanterre University (NCU). The population of Nanterre, after the 2005 riots, has been hit very hard by the economical crisis. Unemployement is very frequent. Governement funds almost entirely leave out socio-educational projects. It is within this situation that the project aims to give the city's youth a feeling of personnal competence and of control over their future. Grappling is a fun and easy to learn form of wrestling which has been part of the Wrestling International Federation (FILA) for 4 years.
The project aims for a systemic take on the problem of social marginalisation by combining sports, school tutoring and good nutrition within the structure. The regular presence of grappling champions (world medalists), the possibility of physical progression, the care brought to nutrition - all of these elements contribute to make those kids feel good about themselves, and to keep their motivation strong for this project. The school tutoring before each sport session and the fact that the training is within an university are factors that aim to improve the kids' school grades and make them believe they can reach university scholarship, in an environment that's both friendly and family-like.