THF Board Approves New Global Strategy and Refugee Initiatives at 10th Anniversary Meeting

Chaired by World Taekwondo President and THF Chairman Dr. Chungwon Choue, the Board reviewed a decade of significant growth—evolving from a grassroots initiative into an organization that has served tens of thousands of displaced youth across Jordan, Rwanda, Eswatini, France, and Malta. The meeting also saw the approval of several major, future-focused humanitarian initiatives.

“Over the last 10 years, Taekwondo has given young refugees opportunities to build confidence, dignity, and hope,” said Dr. Choue. “As we look ahead, we must continue to adapt and ensure that our sport can support even more young people and vulnerable communities around the world.”

Key Programmatic Updates & Milestones

• Inaugural Hope and Dreams Sport Festival: Held February 4–6, 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda, the festival united over 270 refugee youth from the Mahama and Kiziba camps with the local host community for training, cultural exchange, and competition.
• Elite Competition Pathway: THF-supported refugee athletes successfully competed in major World Taekwondo events in Wuxi, Malabo, Nairobi, and Tashkent. Notably, Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medalist Zakia Khudadadi captured gold at the European Para Taekwondo Championships in Munich.
• Humanitarian Recognition: During the European Championships in Munich, IOC Honorary President for Life and Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) Chair Thomas Bach was awarded the Taekwondo Humanitarian Trophy, recognizing his outstanding commitment to sports-based humanitarian action.
• Anniversary Documentary: The milestone was commemorated with the premiere of a new short film, “From Promise to Impact: 10 Years of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation,” charting the organization’s first decade of impact.

Newly Approved Initiatives

To strengthen long-term opportunities for refugees through sports and education, the Board approved the following projects:

• THF–FISU Educational English Program: Located at the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan, this digital learning center will deliver up to 16 weekly sessions for approximately 120 students. THF will fund the initial infrastructure, while FISU will provide volunteer educators through its alumni network in Jordan.
• Athlete Solidarity Grants: The Board renewed funding to support refugee athletes competing in the upcoming 2026 G1 Solidarity’s Center Open in Montargis, France, aiding their qualification pathways toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• Independent Impact Assessment: The Board commissioned a comprehensive, independent 10-year study of THF’s flagship programs in the Azraq camp to measure participant well-being and enhance future donor reporting.

Strategic Transformation Plan (2026–2030)

Looking to the future, the Board expressed strong support for the Strategic Transformation Plan 2026–2030. This roadmap outlines THF’s evolution into a scalable Global Solidarity Hub built on three core pillars:

1. Sport-Plus Model: Seamlessly integrating elite Taekwondo training with formal education and essential life skills.
2. Geographic Expansion: Extending operations to reach additional vulnerable and displaced communities worldwide.
3. Diversified Funding: Securing robust institutional, corporate, and community contributions, highlighted by the upcoming launch of THF Action for Good—a digital crowdfunding and project-tracking initiative.

As it enters its second decade, the THF remains dedicated to demonstrating how sport can cultivate resilience, inclusion, and human dignity for underserved youth globally.

About The Author