Mentoring Juniors Kids Organization (MJKO)
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Mission Statement
MJKO is a youth charity with our center of operations in South Parkdale, Toronto. We use leadership training to promote positive, healthy lifestyle choices for children and youth. With certified coaches, MJKO builds Community Champions by focusing on the needs of the whole person through two streams: non-contact (recreational), and contact boxing (competitive) which includes physical training (skipping, shadow boxing, defensive moves) and mental skills training (visualization and meditation). Our programs allow students to develop an appreciation for physical fitness, inclusive communities, mindfulness, healthy eating, and volunteerism.
About This Cause
MJKO was co-founded by Ibrahim and Miranda Kamal in 2010 to share the life skills they learned through boxing. Miranda is a survivor of sexual assault as a teen and Ibrahim, grew up in one of Toronto’s priority neighborhoods. Both boxed competitively, Ibrahim was an eight-time National Boxing Champion, and both know firsthand how sport can change one’s life for the better. Since MJKO started they have provided free access to non contact boxing to over 15,000 youth in Toronto. MJKO provides: 1) an innovative approach to youth mental health, using the sport of non-contact boxing as a tool for coping with mental health related challenges such as aggression, trauma, anxiety, stress, depression, grief, and suicidal thoughts. 2) access to nutritious food every single day; 3) paid employment & peer mentorship for youth. This program allows for daily access to an after-school program in MJKO’s Champion Centre in Parkdale. Healthy diet, exercise and mental fitness are all a part of the program. Providing certified coaches, teaching non-contact boxing as a tool for positive wellness. Participants engage in 60 minutes of age appropriate, vigorous physical activity & 30 minutes of life skills-based education. Each session ends with mindfulness meditation, a healthy snack, with all necessary equipment provided by MJKO. Food scarcity is a big problem for many MJKO students. Second Harvest has partnered with us enabling us to offer daily healthy snacks. At the end of each workout our youth are given a snack and educated on the importance of a well-balanced diet. Over the past 10 years, MJKO has partnered with the Toronto Police 14 Division. Officers attend our programs as teammates with MJKO coaches as the head facilitators. Through sports participation, trust it built. “We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback about MJKO from colleagues and other police divisions. MJKO provides a dynamic and comprehensive approach to mentoring young people through the sport of non-contact boxing. They not only break down barriers between the police, community and kids; they give youth a place to relieve stress, create new healthy caring connections and create a sense of family. For us, the best thing about MJKO programming is that all youth get to see the police in a positive light and not in negative setting.” Superintendent Bergen, Toronto Police MJKO is looking for funding to support youth providing an innovative approach to youth mental health, using the sport of non-contact boxing as a tool for coping with mental health related challenges such as aggression, trauma, anxiety, stress, depression, grief, and suicidal thoughts. Anticipated outcomes: • Improved youth mental health in Parkdale • Increased access to nutritious food every single day Indicators of success: • Strong attendance at the program • The amount of food in (lbs) given to marginalized youth • Shared stories of how non-contact boxing affected mental health. • visible display via social media of youth promoting MJKO as a tool for good mental and physical wellbeing.