OUR BEGINNING
Lift4Life was inspired during the summer of 2015, when founder and passionate powerlifter John Downing travelled to Zimbabwe on a trip with his church. On the last day on route to the airport, John was toured through a local community center where he heard the distant and familiar sound of metal plates on concrete. Following the sound, he discovered a humble little gym and immediately bonded with the lifters on the bench press. It was here that John realized the opportunity to combine a passion for powerlifting and partnership for good, and Lift4Life was born.
WHAT WE DO
Lift4Life is a registered charity in the USA, and a non-profit in Canada.
Lift4Life empowers marginalized communities through strength training and the sport of powerlifting. Powerlifting is composed of the squat, benchpress, and deadlift, and is a low-cost accessible sport to build community and connect people around the world. Its a sport for all ages, weight classes, genders, and abilities.
Lift4Life provides funding support for lifting equipment that is all built locally using local materials to provide employment and livelihood opportunities. We take on a whole community approach to our work, and local lifters are empowered to take on projects that are important to them to ensure sustainability. Powerlifting programming through Lift4Life additionally addresses community needs including addressing substance and drug abuse as a drug free sport, fostering women empowerment and gender equality, facilitating education and developing opportunities, providing employment opportunities, promoting health and so much more. You can read more about our impact here.
WHERE WE WORK
Lift4Life currently works in Zimbabwe, with access to 41 community centres in the capital city of Harare. Additionally, workshops have been hosted at a number of neighbouring provinces.
In 2020, Lift4Life will be expanding to other countries to continue to foster additional opportunities for powerlifting to create positive change. Lift4Life is currently building the first gym in Lesotho, and has conducted a needs assessment in Nairobi, Kenya.
Lift4Life believes there is work to be done in our own back yard, and Lift4Life Canada has begun local work and events for marginalized communities providing them the benefits of strength sports. Lift4Life Canada has a powerlifting rack for community use located in Trenton, Ontario.
OUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE
Lift4Life believes powerlifting is a sport for everyone, and that everyone should have the opportunity to participate and benefit regardless of gender, race, religion, and socio-economic status.
hOW YOU CAN HELP
Lift4Life is always looking for sponsorship and donations – check out our SUPPORT page for our current projects and partnership opportunities. We are also always looking for innovative ideas, resource support, and avenues to raise awareness for our cause and welcome anything you can offer. Feel free to CONTACT US as well as share what we are all about.