Totem Dojo to run camp in Tefía to help young people stand up to bullying

Strength and a sense of belonging to say NO to bullying

The initiative draws on the club’s years of experience working with young people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Speaking in an interview on La Voz de Fuerteventura, on Radio Insular, Lorenzo said many children come to the gym struggling to relate to others, express their feelings or deal with problems at school and in their personal lives.

Through sport, he said, they discover a place where they can develop discipline, responsibility, self-esteem and a sense of belonging.

The camp, which will run from 10 to 16 August at the Tefía hostel, will combine the usual activities of a summer camp with the educational approach Totem Dojo uses in its training sessions.

Excursions, team games, arts and crafts and outdoor activities will be combined with sessions focused on personal development and habits such as respect, perseverance and empathy.

Lorenzo stressed that the programme would not teach young people how to fight. Activities involving contact sports will focus on self-control, discipline and managing frustration, with no bouts between participants.

The aim is for children to understand that strength lies not in aggression, but in being able to act with confidence, respect and responsibility.

The head of Totem Dojo believes initiatives of this kind can complement—but never replace—the education young people receive from their families and at school.

Preventing bullying from becoming normalised

In his view, sport provides an environment where young people can learn to live alongside others, take responsibility and face difficulties through effort and perseverance.

The camp is for both young people who may feel vulnerable and those who might one day witness abuse and choose not to stand by or remain silent.

The aim is to build confidence so that children can express how they feel and ask for help, while encouraging the group to play its part in preventing bullying and exclusion from being normalised.

Participants can attend with or without an overnight stay. The option is designed to suit families’ needs and children who do not yet feel ready to spend the night away from home.

Places will be limited to between 25 and 30 participants, although the facilities could accommodate a much larger group.

The organisers have chosen to limit enrolment to provide closer support and maintain the quality of the educational experience.

Registration is open and can be completed by calling the number provided by Totem Dojo or through the club’s social media accounts.

From a Fuerteventura dojo to coaching the Canary Islands team

The launch of the camp coincides with one of Lorenzo’s strongest periods in sport. He has just returned from the Spanish Championships, where he coached the Canary Islands team.

Modest by nature, the coach played down his own role and credited the regional team’s results to the groundwork done by the clubs and coaches who train the athletes throughout the season.