SUPPORT TERERE KIDS PROJECT
Terere Kids Project is a social project founded by 5x World Champion Fernando “Terere” Da Silva. The project is located in Mestre Terere’s gym at the base of the Cantagalo Favela in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro. The space for the academy was given to Terere free of rent by the government, and the students built the academy by hand alongside Mestre Terere. Since its inauguration in 2012 the academy has been a second home for children from the community that come to learn the Arte Sauve. Donations from abroad allow the project to buy kimonos, pay for competition fees, and provide snacks after the children’s class.
The mission of the project is to provide kids from the Cantagalo community a safe environment where they can play, grow and learn together. Many favelas in Rio lack the infrastructure and the resources to provide safe alternatives to playing on the street amongst the gangs and drug dealers. Terere himself suffered from drug addiction that halted his career in Jiu Jitsu for close to 10 years. Understanding first hand the perils associated with drug addiction, Terere formed the social project as a means to introduce more kids to Gracie Jiu Jitsu, a sport that he attributes to saving his life. Although he is back on the Jiu Jitsu scene, Terere has stepped away from the competition fervor and instead has opted to use his experiences, both on and off the mats, to help form a new generation of athletes.
Everyday more kids join the project and start training and competing thanks to the kimono donations and money sent for competition fees. The athletes that are more dedicated to competing have started developing their own curriculums and are learning to market themselves as athletes.
In collaboration with the social project of the Cantagalo Favela of Rio de Janeiro, BJJ black belt Thomas Mastwo Oyarzun will be giving a Charity Tour of Jiu-jitsu seminars all around Europe: “Jiu Jitsu to the Rescue”
Terere and Thomas Oyarzun
Your donations will help the kids of the project pay for their tuition, competition and travelling fees.
-Lausanne, CH. 01/03/2016
Fight Zone – Nova Uniao
-London, UK. 21/03/2016
London Fight Factory – Checkmat
-Montmélian, FR. 26/03/2016
Aranha Association
-Moscow, RU. 09/04/2016
Ludus Team – Alliance
-Winterthur, CH. 16/04/2016
Ferrer BJJ
-St. Étienne, FR. 07/05/2016
F Club
-La Grand-Croix, FR. 08/05/2016
Team Carvalho
Book seminar thomas.oyarzun@hotmail.com
Info www.tererekidsproject.com
