One of today’s biggest humanitarian crisis is happening in Syria, with a conflict that has been lasting for nearly five years. The protracted nature of the crisis is having a devastating effect on millions of ordinary people, as well as placing a huge burden on neighbouring countries that have so far taken in several millions of refugees.

To date, Jordan is host to more than 630,000 Syrian refugees, of which almost 110’000 currently live in Zaatari refugee camp and the country’s other main camp in Azraq. Most affected refugees are children. They don't deserve to be punished for the mistakes or conflicts of their superior adults. Such conflicts deprive them of resources to educate and prepare them for future.

Facing this crisis, the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) launched in cooperation with the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) a pilot project to assist refugees in Zaatari and Azraq camps in December 2015.

After the inauguration, a Korean taekwondo coach was dispatched to Jordan for two months to train four Jordanian instructors in coaching techniques. Upon their training completion, THF plans to establish Taekwondo Academies in both camps, with permanent infrastructures, in order to offer taekwondo teaching to refugee children living in Zaatari and Azraq camps, which host some 79,000, respectively 28,000 refugees and displaced persons.

In Azraq camp, four times a week classes for boys aged 11-14 have started at the end of April 2016, while classes for girls have started at the beginning of July 2016.

Hence, I will be running Bath Half Marathon to support the project to help the kids to learn discipline, respect each other and most importantly keep them away from trouble in such hard times.