Fight For Freedom is a core supporter of Ghedeon Sports Academy, which serves underprivileged Romanian children with training and competition in the sports of Greco-Roman wrestling, Tae Kwon Do, and Jujitsu. Children receive scholarships to attend the academy, and are provided a healthy outlet where they can develop personally, build self-esteem, and learn from coaches and each other.
Organization: Ghedeon is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide children in Romania from low-income families with athletic training and personal empowerment.
Established: Launched in 2020.
Location: Based in Suceava, Romania.
Sports Programs: Offers Greco-Roman wrestling, Tae Kwondo, and Brazilian jujitsu.
Participants: Serving 50-60 children weekly.
Age Group: Caters to children aged 5-16, with a majority between 8-12 years.
Economic Background: Assists children from low-income or impoverished families.
Scholarships: Over 50% of participants receive full or nearly-full scholarships.
Community Engagement: Includes 5 children from the Roma community.
Cost: Charges 100 LEI/mo (<$20/mo), with discounts/free spots for siblings.
Training Schedule: Provides 4 weekly sessions of wrestling, and 2 each of Tae Kwondo and Brazilian jujitsu.
Lead Coach: Peter Bolohan. Multiple-time GR wrestling champion, Romanian National Team member. 18 years professional wrestling career. 10 years volunteering as a coach. 2016 Graduated from Stephan Cel Mare University School of Physical Education & Sport – B.S in GR wrestling. 2020 graduated from National School of Coaching in Bucharest
Competitions: 1 National competition annually, 2 international competitions, multiple regional and local competitions.
Competition Participation: Even though they started with children who have never wrestled before, they have earned 2 4th places in international competition. Doing very well in local and regional competitions, achieving 1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze medals.
Benefits for Kids: – A healthy productive activity that keeps youth off of streets – Wrestling training is a low-cost way of making a large impact in children’s lives through sport (as opposed to soccer programs, were parents pay 250-500 LEI/mo/child in Suceava).
Impact on Lifestyle: Offers a productive activity that helps keep youth engaged and off the streets.
Affordable Sport Option: Provides a cost-effective alternative to more expensive soccer programs.
Social Impact Examples: Acts as a secondary family for a very poor family of 10, providing monthly food and hygiene support.
Girl wrestlers Ghedeon is the only gym in the region to offer wrestling for girls. One of the instructors is a female wrestler who was once an orphan.
Funding: Supported by student fees, private donations, and gear provided by Fight For Freedom.
Financial Goals and Methods: Needs $29,000 for upcoming expenses, accepts donations through Fight For Freedom USA, a 501(c)(3) organization.
Child Sponsorship Cost: $820 to fully sponsor one child for a year.
