Kathmandu, January 30

The World Taekwondo Federation is launching the Pilot Project in Khadichaur of Sindhupalchowk district under its Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation.

The WTF instituted the Foundation last year with the aim of helping children in refugee camps all over the world. “We were moved by the news of the devastating earthquake in Nepal and we decided to help the children affected by the disastrous calamity,” said WTF President Dr Chungwon Choue at a press meet today.

“As a Olympic sport, we wanted to do something in humanitarian front and contribute to the human society. We came up with the idea of establishing the Foundation and began the Pilot Project from a refugee camp in Jordan,” said Choue. “Many youth kids there don’t have dream and hope for future. From this effort, we can give them the dream and hope. Who knows one day a kid from the refugee camp can compete in Olympics and even win medal,” he added.

“We want to help the children of Nepal to recover from the shock of earthquake and teach them how to live as a good citizen,” he said. “There are 60,000 people practicing taekwondo in Nepal, we want to give them a chance. I believe

Nepal can win medal in Olympics and Paralympics one day.”

Under the project, the Foundation would provide the kids with equipments and track suits and organise the 15-day training camp in the first phase. “We are beginning with 200 children from Jalbire, Khadichour and Barabise in the first phase before moving to various parts of the country,” said Nepal Taekwondo Association General Secretary Deep Raj Gurung. Vice-President Nanda Kishor Pun is scheduled to launch the Pilot Project in Khadichour on Sunday.

President of NTA Prakash Shumsher Rana said the project was of more importance for Nepal. “The Pilot Project will be a morale booster for the Nepali people who faced such a devastating earthquake. This in not only NTA’s programme, this is the programme of the nation and children can take a lot of benefit from it,” Rana said.

The 25-member delegation team landed in Kathmandu on Friday and the met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli last evening. The team visited the quake-affected Basantapur Durbar Square this morning. After Sindhupalchowk programme, the team will go to Pokhara and inspect the venue for proposed high-altitude poomsae tournament at Dhampus.

The delegation also includes continental presidents Athanasios Pragalos (Europe), John Kotsifas (Oceana) and Kyu Seok Lee (Asia) along with WTF Director General Roger Piarulli, Adviser Chang Shin Choi, Senior Director Seok Jae Kang and 15 demonstration team among others. The demonstration team is scheduled to show their performance at the Nepali Army Sports Complex in Lalitpur on Thursday.

Oceana Taekwondp Union President Kotsifas said the team was sad to see the destruction of historic buildings and temples of Kathmandu. “We were sad to see that historic monuments were gone,” he said. “Despite going through such a catastrophic phase, we found that friendship and spirit of Nepali people was positive and high,” said Kotsifas. Asian president Lee said: “We were surprised, how can this happen to such a beautiful country. We want to do something to support Nepal.” Europe president Pragalos said the Pilt Project would be helpful for the children to overcome tragedy.