UFC Fighter Beat Depression And Addiction By Liberating Slaves In Congo
Justin Wren is a professional mixed martial artist who formerly competed for the UFC and has over 13 professional victories under his belt. He reached his dream of becoming a pro fighter at the age of 18, but the experience wasn’t fulfilling as Wren was battling depression and drug addiction at that time and by the time he was 23 he attempted suicide. At the lowest point in life, Justin realized that he wanted to do something meaningful, make a change in this world that truly mattered.
He set his eyes on the Pygmies of Congo, who were trapped in a cycle of slavery and abuse by the Mokpala tribe. The Pygmies had no land, forcing them to work for food, which was as little as 2 bananas a day, for a whole family to share, to keep them hungry and dependent on their masters. Seeing their suffering Justin realized he knew what he had to do. “I was fighting against people, but really I was just supposed to be fighting for people” he recalled.
“It would be foolish of us to come to the slave masters and say ‘hey, we want to set your people free’,” Wren explained, “so you have to go out in a respectful way to both parties. You can’t love one side and hate the other”. So, Wren used water to help both sides. He teamed up with Water4 and founded ‘Fight for the Forgotten’ charity to employ the local workforce, giving them jobs, to drill wells in otherwise inaccessible areas. In this way, he not only helped the enslaved Pygmies, but also their slave masters, resolving the conflict without hostility.
Since the beginning of his journey 8 years ago, Wren has done a number of expeditions and charity drives with ‘Fight for the Forgotten’ to help his Pigmy family. He used some of his earnings to buy land for the Pygmies and dig wells that would not only improve their general health, but also save their children from dying of waterborne diseases. You can donate to the cause on Water4’s website.
More info: Facebook
Justin Wren is a 31-year-old professional mixed martial artist
He reached his dream of becoming a pro fighter at the age of 18, but the experience wasn’t fulfilling
Wren was battling depression and drug addiction and by the time he was 23 he attempted suicide
At the lowest point in life, Justin realized that he wanted to do something meaningful
He set his eyes on the Pygmies of Congo, who were trapped in the cycle of slavery
The Mokpala tribe would enslave and abuse the Pygmies
“Their slave masters would come up to me and say ‘what are you doing with my animals?'” Wren recalled
The Pygmies had no land, forcing them to work for food
Which was as little as 2 bananas a day, for a whole family to share
Seeing their suffering Justin realized he had to help them
“I was fighting against people, but really I was just supposed to be fighting for people”
He teamed up with Water4 and founded ‘Fight for the Forgotten’ charity
They used the local workforce to drill wells in otherwise inaccessible areas
Water changed the people’s lives as Congo has one of the highest child mortality rates due to lack of clean water
They also bought land for the Pygmies, so they’d have a place to call their own
Wren has written a book titled “Fight for the Forgotten: How a Mixed Martial Artist Stopped Fighting for Himself and Started Fighting for Others”
After spending 5 years with the Pygmies, Wren has returned to his fighting career, but still keeps spreading the word
Since the beginning of his journey 8 years ago, Justin has managed to combine both, fulfilling his purpose and pursuing his dream career
Watch the video below to see Justin’s journey and message
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Share on FacebookI think in general the word Hero is overused. In this instance it is not. This is a real hero
This was beautiful! Please no more teeth nails, I like this stuff better!
Love love love love this man and the people he helped. Sir, the epiphany you had (at such a young age,to boot!), is one I wish everyone could experience...what a world this could be if all people could extend their hand, and help another person up to same level playing field that all should be on; what a wonderful world it could be. Hatred and selfishness are easy, if one wants to show true strength, help others. It doesn’t have to be a mission of grand proportions, just enough to get others noticing and wanting to help out as well. One never knows, any one of those children could be the one to cure cancer or solve the problems that plague our pale blue dot, they just need the chance to shine,succeed and give back to the world community so others may also help better this world.
With tears in my eyes, I've got to say, this story was better than all of the cute puppy and cuddly stories I've read, combined, here at Bored Panda. What I initially thought was going to be a boring story turned out to amaze me. This guy is like the Pygmie's Chuck Norries, kicking the Congolese's a*s!! I wish I had just a smidgen of the guts, brain, and brawn he had, to do this too. It has really inspired me and now I want to donate to his Water4 charity. I NEVER donate to charities! NEVER!! But this man, he even bought them their own LAND for cryin' out loud!! This is a REAL HERO!!!
reading all the evil and greed in this world its refreshing to see a great human being pop up and show the hope to all...Thank for the story and the young man that took this on...God Bless!!
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Justin_Wren_Fight_for_the_Forgotten?id=tkcjBQAAQBAJ
Load More Replies..."quit his career to..." sounds like out of altruism he gave up something better for something worse. My understanding is that he, both for the project and for himself changed his life for good!
I've been to the DRC and it broke my heart to see kids excited when it rained because it washed garbage into their areas that they could pick through for food. I volunteer with an orphanage over there and wish all people with change in their pockets could just donate it & we'd make an incredible difference in the world. This fellow ROCKS <3
I think that's when he had a drug addiction--he looks younger now.
Load More Replies...I think in general the word Hero is overused. In this instance it is not. This is a real hero
This was beautiful! Please no more teeth nails, I like this stuff better!
Love love love love this man and the people he helped. Sir, the epiphany you had (at such a young age,to boot!), is one I wish everyone could experience...what a world this could be if all people could extend their hand, and help another person up to same level playing field that all should be on; what a wonderful world it could be. Hatred and selfishness are easy, if one wants to show true strength, help others. It doesn’t have to be a mission of grand proportions, just enough to get others noticing and wanting to help out as well. One never knows, any one of those children could be the one to cure cancer or solve the problems that plague our pale blue dot, they just need the chance to shine,succeed and give back to the world community so others may also help better this world.
With tears in my eyes, I've got to say, this story was better than all of the cute puppy and cuddly stories I've read, combined, here at Bored Panda. What I initially thought was going to be a boring story turned out to amaze me. This guy is like the Pygmie's Chuck Norries, kicking the Congolese's a*s!! I wish I had just a smidgen of the guts, brain, and brawn he had, to do this too. It has really inspired me and now I want to donate to his Water4 charity. I NEVER donate to charities! NEVER!! But this man, he even bought them their own LAND for cryin' out loud!! This is a REAL HERO!!!
reading all the evil and greed in this world its refreshing to see a great human being pop up and show the hope to all...Thank for the story and the young man that took this on...God Bless!!
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Justin_Wren_Fight_for_the_Forgotten?id=tkcjBQAAQBAJ
Load More Replies..."quit his career to..." sounds like out of altruism he gave up something better for something worse. My understanding is that he, both for the project and for himself changed his life for good!
I've been to the DRC and it broke my heart to see kids excited when it rained because it washed garbage into their areas that they could pick through for food. I volunteer with an orphanage over there and wish all people with change in their pockets could just donate it & we'd make an incredible difference in the world. This fellow ROCKS <3
I think that's when he had a drug addiction--he looks younger now.
Load More Replies...
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