MALINDZA REFUGEE CAMP, ESWATINI
For the second year, THF participants had the opportunity to compete to The Next Generation Championship, which was held in Manzini on July 8th. Relaying the message from Master Sizwe Mabuza, Director of The Next Generation Taekwondo Academy, “this championship sanctioned by the Eswatini Taekwondo Federation is a model developmental to elite championship, in the sense that it caters for all ages and skill levels from all interested MNAs.”
The 2023 edition attracted participation of more than 500 athletes coming over 13 countries including the United Kingdom, USA and Greece as well as one Para Athlete from Lesotho. Twenty-two young boys and girls attending the THF program at Malindza Refugee Camp were registered. However, only heighten took part in the competition, others missed their matchups because they had to leave before their matches were called as competition finished way after midnight. The camp rules dictate that all camp residents must be back before nightfall.
THF athletes trained by The Next Generation Taekwondo Academy performed well, winning 3 medals in Poomsae (2x gold and 1x silver) and 10 medals in Kyorugi categories (4x gold, 3x silver, 3x bronze). THF program participant Riziki Shabane, a 17-year-old Congolese refugee, confirm her talent in Poomsae, achieving gold for the second consecutive year. Started in January 2022, the THF project in Malindza Refugee Camp is a partnership between the THF and The Next Generation Taekwondo Academy, which provides taekwondo classes to 165 young boys and girls who are trained to kyorugi and poomsae.
KIZIBA REFUGEE CAMP, RWANDA
Rwanda Taekwondo Federation conducted belts tests and promotion of taekwondo athletes from the THF academy in Kiziba, on August 16th, 2023. Participants to the exams were 98 athletes. They passed and promoted to the following ranks: to Red belts (8), to Blue belts (17), to Green belts (20), to Yellow belts (24) and to Yellow and White belts (29).
The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) project in the Refugee Camp of Kiziba is running since 2017. Currently, 150 young boys and adolescents practice taekwondo in groups on a multi-weekly basis. The THF project includes the development and delivery of a holistic and integrated health and well-being program, using taekwondo to engage and educate, but also to insufflate positive behavior’s changes.
AZRAQ REFUGEE CAMP, JORDAN
On August 25th, 23 students applied for the black belt examination, including 17 girls and 6 boys, pushing the number of black belt holders in Azraq Refugee Camp to 93, since 2016. The black belt passing test was supervised by a committee from the Jordanian Taekwondo Federation, whose members were impressed by the technical level of the students.
The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) project in the refugee camp of Azraq is running since 2016 and has shown significant results through the Humanitarian Sport Center achieved in 2018, where children can enjoy sports activities and education.
With around 100 students, mixing boys and girls, the THF academy is run by coach Asif Sabah and trainer Mohammad Al-Ayoub, the father of Doaa, a seven year talented taekwondo athlete. Doaa, was six when she received her first black belt, turning the Syrian refugee girl as the youngest refugee taekwondo black belt. Now, with seven, she is already a 2nd Dan black belt.
