A former English amateur boxer, Luke Dowdney founded Fight for Peace (FFP) in 2000 in the Complexo da Maré, a complex of favelas (shantytowns) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the help and support of Viva Rio.Luke's experience with boxing had taught him that this sport can be an effective tool to overcome division and violence and promote the potential of young people most in need. Since its establishment in 2000, Fight for Peace has developed a prevention and rehabilitation model to confront the problem of child and youth participation in crime, gangs and gun violence within disadvantaged communities. Luke has replicated the programme internationally, having successfully launched the FFP Academy in East London in 2007. Dowdney first came to Brazil when studying for a master's degree in social anthropology at Edinburgh University, to write his dissertation on violence and Brazilian street children. Luke was a keen amateur boxer; in 1995 he was British Universities Light-Middleweight boxing champion and has coached youth boxers in Brazil at FFP since 2000. In June of 2004 Luke was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for 'services to the prevention of child exploitation and violence in Brazil'. During 2006 Luke became an Ashoka Fellow and received and UnLtd Level 2 Award for his work as a social entrepreneur. In April 2007 Luke won the prestigious 'Sport for Good Award' at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Barcelona. In May 2011, Luke is launching Luta - a fightwear and ...