Jeff Horn helps Townsville students in AMAYDA anti-bullying program
Former teacher turned world champion boxer Jeff Horn has picked his next challenge, this time helping to empower local kids to take a stand against bullying.
Townsville
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Former teacher turned world champion boxer Jeff Horn has picked his next challenge, this time helping to empower local kids to take a stand against bullying.
Launching the AMAYDA anti-bullying pilot program at Thuringowa State High on Monday, Horn, 33, said it was amazing to be an ambassador and mentor.
Speaking from his personal experiences being bullied as a school student himself before dealing with “pretty horrible stuff” as a teacher, Horn said it was important to give kids the verbal and physical skills to protect themselves and “give them back some confidence”.
“We’ve seen kids’ confidence grow exponentially already as part of this program,” Horn said.
The professional boxer credited AMAYDA director and his trainer Glenn Rushton, for giving him the necessary skills as an 18-year-old to change his life and hopes he can do the same for the next generation.
“Something is bad in some kid’s lives that they are putting another kid down and it’s horrible to see,” he said.
“We need something to change these kids attitudes because some have lost all hope.”
Now a father himself, Horn said it was extremely important for kids to “have another avenue” for support outside of where they can already go at home or school.
The AMAYDA program was sponsored with a half-a-million-dollar funding commitment from the state government and has so far helped more than 4000 children in Queensland.
“It’s a massive help for us to reach out and help as many kids as possible.”
Originally published as Jeff Horn helps Townsville students in AMAYDA anti-bullying program
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