Universally acclaimed for his outstanding performance in Ju-Jitsu (more than 10 international titles including World Champion in 2002), Gregory Vallarino is a true ambassador for his sport. Now that he has left international competition, he wants to ‘give back’ to Ju-Jitsu all that this sport has brought to him.

Gregory Vallarino joined Peace and Sport’s "Champions for Peace" club in 2011 in order to become Ambassador of the joint Peace and Sport - JJIF (Ju-Jitsu International Federation) "Ju-Jitsu for Peace" program. This program aimed at the most vulnerable young people uses Ju-Jitsu as a tool for peace education and social integration. Supporting the project "Ju-Jitsu por la Paz" in Colombia is Gregory’s first undertaking with Peace and Sport and JJIF.

"Ju-Jitsu por la Paz" is a joint project conducted by the National Colombian Federation of Ju-Jitsu in collaboration with the NGO Colombianitos and support from Peace and Sport and JJIF. Its purpose is to enable vulnerable young 8-12 year-olds from the "Ciudad Bolivar" district on the outskirts of Bogota in Colombia, many of whom come from families which have been displaced by guerrilla warfare, to regularly practice Ju-Jitsu (at least twice a week) in a structured and supervised environment and thus learn the values of respect, discipline and personal development which this sport propagates.

The money raised for the project will be used to purchase equipment (mats and kimonos) and pay costs associated with training educators and the program’s young participants.