THF Wraps Up “Hope and Dreams” Sports Festival in Rwanda with Over 200 Young Refugees

Kigali, Rwanda – The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) reported the successful conclusion of the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival, held February 4–6 in Rwanda, bringing together more than 200 refugee children and youth, coaches, and volunteers from Mahama and Kiziba refugee camps.

According to THF, the event aimed to empower refugee youth through sport, using Taekwondo as a vehicle for education, resilience, and social inclusion. The program combined competition across Cadet, Junior and Senior divisions with cultural and community activities designed to strengthen confidence, friendships, and mutual understanding.

The main competition took place on February 5 in Kigali and concluded with an awards ceremony attended by representatives from UNHCR and Rwanda’s government refugee authorities, reflecting institutional support for sport-based youth development.

Beyond the matches, THF emphasized long-term impact: the final day included a technical training session and the presentation of certificates and participation medals to ensure an inclusive experience for all attendees.

THF also linked the festival to the May 2025 visit to Mahama Refugee Camp by World Taekwondo President and THF Chairman Dr. Chungwon Choue, where THF reaffirmed its commitment to programs in Rwanda. THF stated that IOC Member Félicité Rwemarika and World Taekwondo Council Member Maher Magableh were also part of that visit.

Marking THF’s 10th anniversary (founded in 2016), the organization noted that the 2026 festival was delivered in coordination with World Taekwondo and the Rwanda Taekwondo Federation, and it signaled plans for a larger-scale event in 2027, with expanded athlete development pathways, including opportunities for refugee participants to progress toward black belt promotion tests before year-end.

Looking ahead, THF said it will continue its anniversary initiatives with another Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in April 2026 in Amman, Jordan, with the Olympic Refuge Foundation set to join the event.

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