What is FairFight?
Stichting FairFight is a nonprofit organization that was officially founded on the 5th of August in 2015. The organization aims at bringing martial arts to young girls in developing countries in order to empower them. The whole project is based on the idea that martial arts do not only provide physical strength but also mental strength. In the long term, it builds more confident and daring minds, as it provides a slow buildup of strength and the development of a sense of honor and fairplay, which in many cases results in a sharper and more alert identity.
Why Martial Arts?
The use of martial arts for empowerment is the core idea of our organisation. Martial arts, which encompasses the spectrum of self defense ‘sports’ and ranges for example from all forms of Karate and Taekwondo to Aikido and Judo. Each form of martial arts has its own specific approach and focus (e.g. kicking, punching, grappling), but the core values of every martial arts revolve around similar concepts. What we are talking about here are values such as respect, discipline, dignity and the development of selfconsciousness and humbleness. Our experience is that the practice of martial arts has changed our lives for the better, teaching us that we can achieve what we want in life and that we should believe in the fullest potential of ourselves. Everyone in martial arts is equal, wherever you are from and whatever it is you do: young and old, man and woman all train together in one club. Even though our belt ranks may differ, we are empowered and united in what we do. The founders of FairFight realised that martial arts can thus be used to bring empowerment to girls and women everywhere in the world.
What does FairFight do?
FairFight facilitates martial arts training and expertise to girls in (underprivileged) communities all around the world. We do this through organising projects with local martial artists and taking on a group of girls as a starting point. We help the teacher set up a programme for the girls and provide the equipment necessary to facilitate good training. In the end, we aim to create sustainable projects, which means that the local teacher will continue teaching and empowering the girls through the martial arts he or she practices. So far we have completed two successful projects in Zimbabwe and one in India. After establishing a solid base for continued teaching for our girls, we facilitate belt gradings, competitions and aim to improve their training facilities.Our projects are made possible by the help of various institutions, a group of certified martial artists and the support of everyone that is interested in our cause.
How did FairFight start?
The initial project is a result of the coming together of Ginie Servant (right) and Alex Whitcomb
(left). After her studies, Ginie wanted to have a positive impact on the world by joining and working for NGOs. However, she found that her work for established organizations was not making the difference she hoped for. Troubled by her experience in Vietnam, she started training in martial arts and witnessed firsthand the tremendous positive impact it could have on a person. The art taught her respect and selfdiscipline, which made her feel more confident, both inside and outside the arena. Because of this personal experience, the idea of using martial arts to tackle gender inequality in developing countries became more and more appealing. Because of a special connection with the country, Ginie’s initial plan was to first implement this in India. However, before any planning started she got offered a job at Erasmus University College (EUC) in Rotterdam, where she met Alex, a Zimbabwean national also working at EUC. Promptly, they both understood and acknowledged the fact that they could help each other, as Alex always wanted to help his community and Ginie needed logistical help for her plan to get in place. As Alex spent roughly 20 years of his life in Zimbabwe, he sustained a number of contacts there, which would make it much easier to organize a kickoff trip for the project, now named FairFight.
Stichting FairFight is a nonprofit organization that was officially founded on the 5th of August in 2015. The organization aims at bringing martial arts to young girls in developing countries in order to empower them. The whole project is based on the idea that martial arts do not only provide physical strength but also mental strength. In the long term, it builds more confident and daring minds, as it provides a slow buildup of strength and the development of a sense of honor and fairplay, which in many cases results in a sharper and more alert identity.
Why Martial Arts?
The use of martial arts for empowerment is the core idea of our organisation. Martial arts, which encompasses the spectrum of self defense ‘sports’ and ranges for example from all forms of Karate and Taekwondo to Aikido and Judo. Each form of martial arts has its own specific approach and focus (e.g. kicking, punching, grappling), but the core values of every martial arts revolve around similar concepts. What we are talking about here are values such as respect, discipline, dignity and the development of selfconsciousness and humbleness. Our experience is that the practice of martial arts has changed our lives for the better, teaching us that we can achieve what we want in life and that we should believe in the fullest potential of ourselves. Everyone in martial arts is equal, wherever you are from and whatever it is you do: young and old, man and woman all train together in one club. Even though our belt ranks may differ, we are empowered and united in what we do. The founders of FairFight realised that martial arts can thus be used to bring empowerment to girls and women everywhere in the world.
What does FairFight do?
FairFight facilitates martial arts training and expertise to girls in (underprivileged) communities all around the world. We do this through organising projects with local martial artists and taking on a group of girls as a starting point. We help the teacher set up a programme for the girls and provide the equipment necessary to facilitate good training. In the end, we aim to create sustainable projects, which means that the local teacher will continue teaching and empowering the girls through the martial arts he or she practices. So far we have completed two successful projects in Zimbabwe and one in India. After establishing a solid base for continued teaching for our girls, we facilitate belt gradings, competitions and aim to improve their training facilities.Our projects are made possible by the help of various institutions, a group of certified martial artists and the support of everyone that is interested in our cause.
How did FairFight start?
The initial project is a result of the coming together of Ginie Servant (right) and Alex Whitcomb
(left). After her studies, Ginie wanted to have a positive impact on the world by joining and working for NGOs. However, she found that her work for established organizations was not making the difference she hoped for. Troubled by her experience in Vietnam, she started training in martial arts and witnessed firsthand the tremendous positive impact it could have on a person. The art taught her respect and selfdiscipline, which made her feel more confident, both inside and outside the arena. Because of this personal experience, the idea of using martial arts to tackle gender inequality in developing countries became more and more appealing. Because of a special connection with the country, Ginie’s initial plan was to first implement this in India. However, before any planning started she got offered a job at Erasmus University College (EUC) in Rotterdam, where she met Alex, a Zimbabwean national also working at EUC. Promptly, they both understood and acknowledged the fact that they could help each other, as Alex always wanted to help his community and Ginie needed logistical help for her plan to get in place. As Alex spent roughly 20 years of his life in Zimbabwe, he sustained a number of contacts there, which would make it much easier to organize a kickoff trip for the project, now named FairFight.