The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) has highlighted the case of a nine-year-old Syrian girl who has been practicing the sport at a refugee camp.
The THF, established by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), aims to teach the sport and related educational programs to refugees and displaced persons worldwide.
Pilot projects are underway in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey and among earthquake victims in Nepal.
The WTF has outlined plans to build their own taekwondo academy at the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan.
It is at Azraq where the nine-year-old, called Solaf Ruzaiq, has started trying out taekwondo.
She became interested in the sport after seeing some children wearing their white robes, and believes the martial art can help her defend herself when her brother is not around.
Her story has also been featured in a video.
“A missile hit our roof and we had to go and sleep in the mosque,” said Solaf on the conflict in Syria, via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. “Then the mosque got bombed and after that we came to Jordan. I don’t like it much here in the camp, there’s no electricity. We use solar lamps at night but they only last for 30 minutes.
“When I’m not at school I play with my friends and do sports. I’m learning taekwondo so that I can defend myself when my brother is not around.”
By Dan Palmer
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz