THF to Work with Brussels and Belgian Taekwondo

BRUSSELS, Belgium (Aug. 30, 2022)

The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Brussels and the Belgian Taekwondo Federation with the aim of creating new projects to empower refugees and displaced people through Taekwondo.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony in Hotel de Ville in Brussels in the presence of Brussels

Mayor Philippe Close; THF Chair and World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue; President of the Belgian Taekwondo Federation Erik Baerts; and first Deputy Mayor of the City of Brussels Benoit Hellings.

Under the MOU, a consortium including members of the city of Brussels, the Belgian Taekwondo Federation and the THF will be cre - ated. They are currently working on a project which will start in 2023 to encourage refugees and displaced persons in Brussels to start physical activities, learn the martial art of Taekwondo and learn the values of Olympism and global citizenship.

In the long term, the expectation is the MOU will facilitate the social inclusion of refugees and displaced persons in Brussels, as Taekwondo is an accelerator of inclusion.

“For the THF, it is yet another important step in ensuring we reach as many people in need as possible and allow them to benefit from Taekwondo,” said Choue. “On a personal level it is special for me as studied here in Belgium and so I am pleased the THF can sign this MOU to celebrate friendship and univer- sality. I hope that many refugees and displaced people will benefit from this partnership.”

“With the signing of this agreement, it is a strong signal that the City of Brussels is giving support to refugees through the practice of Taekwondo, but more generally, also the values of Olympism and global citizenship,” said Close. “In concrete terms, we want to offer refugees and displaced persons opportunities and access to the practice of sport in Brussels and contribute to improving their quality of life.”

The MOU is the third that the THF has signed with European cities following similar agreements made with Paris and Rome.

In Paris, over 100 refugees are currently benefiting from THF program.

The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) today held a conference on the sidelines of the Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix with the aim of encouraging Taekwondo clubs in the Îlede-France region to welcome and support refugees and displaced people.

The conference was organised through the Terrains d’Avenir program, which is supported by the Olympic Refuge Foundation and the French Sports Ministry. Launched earlier this year, the program aims to help refugees in the Île-de-France region to create a sense of belonging and to set themselves on a positive life path through sport.

It is a perfect fit for the THF, one of the program’s six partners.

At the conference, participants had an opportunity to discuss key topics with an expert panel on areas such as the integration of refugees in clubs, child safeguarding and gender equality.

“The Grand Prix heading to Paris for the first time was the perfect opportunity for the THF to organise this conference for the local Taekwondo community,” said THF Chair Chungwon Choue. “Clubs have a key role to play in encouraging social inclusion, creating better communities and forging a legacy for youth. We count on you.”

The THF also took the opportunity to sign several cooperation agreements with affilates including one with Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation Africa (THF Africa) to facilitate knowledge exchange and implement projects for refugees in Africa.

Chaired by Issaka Ide, THF Africa will launch its first project in Niger, followed by one in Mali.

“I would like to thank World Taekwondo and THF Chair Chungwon Choue for his actions around the world, especially in regard to refugee shelters,” said Issaka.

“His generosity does not surprise us.”

Another cooperation agreement was also signed with the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation Arab Union (THF Arab Union), chaired by Driss El Hilali. Through the agreement, the THF Arab Union and the THF will work closely on refugee empowerment in the Arab Union region.

Yet another was signed with the Iran Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF Iran) which is chaired by Saei Hadi. THF Iran will support refugees based in Iran by using Taekwondo as a catalyst for empowerment.

“Iran sport in general, and Iran Taekwondo in particular, have been active in supporting athletes from deprived districts and refugee athletes from neighboring countries during the past years,“ said Hadi. “I believe that our humanitarian activities could be promoted and better organised within the framework of this cooperation agreement under the patronage of the THF.”

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Malta Taekwondo Association, chaired by Anna Vassallo.

And there is more.

In the coming months, the THF will support two refugee athletes aiming to compete at the international level.