The World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst had high praises for the Gloves Over Guns programme which he saw in motion firsthand when he visited the Montego Bay on Sunday.
The Jamaica Boxing Association’s (JBA) flagship programme, which caters to both boys and girls, currently involves six high schools on the Western end of the island with plans to extend to more schools in that region.
They are Irwin, Muschett, Green Pond, Anchovy, Spot Valley, and Herbert Morrison Technical High.
The Gloves Over Guns programme is also in force in other areas of the island and is very strong in the corporate area.
The JBA hosts a monthly show on the last Saturday of each month where boxers from across the island enter the ring to show what they are made of and gain valuable experience.
After observing and sparring with some of the student boxers/athletes van der Vorst said "this visit was for me truly inspirational. Montego Bay gym is more than a gym. It is a gym where they have this great project which is named Gloves Over Guns where schools are participating to discipline children with boxing and I think using boxing as a tool to improve lives is for me truly inspirational. Today I was really touched by how these kids are now trying to improve their own lives so yes it was for me (a) great experience."
"It is for me an inspiration also for other national federations within boxing project that I think will really be helpful for children to use boxing for the social impact and yea I like it."
Van der Vorst thinks that the programme can be introduced to other islands in the region.
"Absolutely. First and foremost, let’s start with the Caribbean region and see how we can expand this project also to other Caribbean countries."
Jasmine Graham, who is the head coach at the Montego Bay Gym, spoke about the personal benefits of the programme and her motivation to help her charges.
"I am more than happy because it’s a dream come true. I myself is a product of the programme. I started boxing when I was 11 years old and today I am proud to say that I am the female heavy weight champion of the Caribbean and now the head coach of Montego Bay boxing gym so I'm very proud of the programme."
“So, the program really is to assist youths who are at risk, who have anger management issues, who need to learn self-defense, or just to take it a little further to become a champion. So that's what we're doing here at the Montego Bay boxing gym."
Graham said that the programme was working for the benefit of those in it and their families.
"Most definitely because the program is not only in the gym it has reached the household of the parents and as you can see here today some parents have come out to support their kids and to see what they're actually doing because some parents are even asking me how do I get their kids to be so reformed, and to be so disciplined and stuff like that but when you have somebody who is like a problem child, you give them a managerial position so therefore you have to set the rules."
The JBA president Stephen Bomber Jones lauded the growth of the programme under Graham’s management. He paid tribute the sponsors who ensure its longevity.
Several stakeholders were part of the visit to the Montego Bay Gym on Sunday including the Mayor, His Worship Richard Veron, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association – Christopher Samuda, as well as representatives from sponsors such as Sandals Foundation, Doctor’s Cave Foundation, Deja Resorts, Pier One, S Hotel, Spanish Court Hotel, Ultra Medical, KFC, Trinity Mall, Ultrasounds Mobay and JOA.
Photo caption: World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst spared with 10 year-old Prince McIntyre – the youngest boxer in the Gloves Over Guns programme at the Montego Bay Gym. The occasion was the visit van der Vorst on Sunday.