Butterflies flying in a boxing ring

“Butterflies flying in a boxing ring,” that’s how fighters move. Daria Kozorez from Tiraspol is convinced of that. She will soon open a modern boxing gym, with the support of the European Union through the Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP.

Daria is 21 and she has been playing sports for as long as she can remember. At 16, she has decided to become a professional sportswoman. A boring vacation made her look for some occupation for her spare time: “I used to play basketball, but unfortunately the courses were closed. I was always more active and decided to try something else. My coach Anatolie came and said: ‘Join boxing classes!’ I was thinking that being a girl, there was no place for me in boxing world and I would attend 2-3 classes and drop out, but I am still here.”

Daria doesn’t speak much, because she prefers to demonstrate her performance in the ring, not through words, she says. Daria’s medal haul includes a gold medal from the European Boxing Championship, a silver medal from the World Youth Boxing Championship and four bronze medals. Each of these medals was obtained through hard work and two daily training sessions. 

In the spring of 2022, Daria was awarded a €15,000 grant from the EU’s Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP. With these funds, she will open a gym equipped with a boxing ring, punching bags, kettlebells, fitness equipment, etc. 

In the new gym, Daria will be coaching children and teenagers, as well as other willing people. 

13 other young entrepreneurs like Daria Kozorez have been selected through a competition by the European Union Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP, to launch or develop a business.