Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Young Syrian women find potential through taekwondo at refugee camp
Hajar Al Nabilsi, 19, a Syrian refugee valedictorian based in the Za'atari camp, poses with a medal during the third edition of the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in Amman, Jordan, May 3. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Lee Hae-rin
Sports education breeds self-confidence, discipline in young athletes
ZA’ATARI, Jordan — Seventy kilometers from the Jordanian capital of Amman and only 30 kilometers from the Syrian border, the Za'atari refugee camp is home to some 80,000 Syrians.
It is where Hajar Al Nabilsi, 19, has lived with her family since the outbreak of the civil war in 2013 when she was only nine. At the age of 12, she started taekwondo as her friends introduced her to a taekwondo academy.
"As a person who likes adventures, I decided to go to taekwondo academy to try new things," she said. Among the 300 trainees at the camp's taekwondo academy, which the Korea Refugee Project (KRP) has operated since 2013, one-third are girls like Al Nabilsi.
Young female taekwondo trainees at Za'atari taekwondo academy pose during the third edition of Hope and Dreams Sports Festival at the refugee camp, Jordan, May 1. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
“Some people in my culture don’t expect the idea that girls practice sports … However, taekwondo helps girls in many different ways, starting from increasing their self-confidence and abilities to socialize with others,” she said, highlighting the connection between sports and her academic achievements.
Having graduated high school as a valedictorian at the camp last year, Al Nabilsi plans to go to Canada through the World University Service of Canada's Student Refugee Program in August. Her dream is to study medicine and become a doctor because she wants to come back to the refugee camp and help those in need, like her father, who has been struggling with pituitary tumors for over two years.
Inas Khasawenah, 22, the most senior among women trainees at the academy, is studying translation at nearby Jarqa University. Years of taekwondo training helped not only the physical and mental health but also university applications and studies of young athletes like her.
Inas Khasawenah, right, helps a younger competitor put on protective gear for the taekwondo tournament during the third edition of the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in Amman, Jordan, May 3. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
"We have some really talented and intelligent children here ... training in taekwondo for years is a big plus for their university and scholarship applications," said Kim Yeo-jin, a KRP volunteer who has been in Za'atari since 2022.
Calling herself a "social butterfly," Khasawenah said her dream is to learn more languages and travel around the world. "I like to learn languages because I want to communicate with a lot of people. I can read and write Korean, too," she said.
However, there seemed to be little hope when Lee Chul-soo, the KRP president who established and operated the taekwondo academy there, first came to the camp in 2012 when it was a lawless place in complete chaos.
"I had to wear a bullet-proof vest and a helmet because stones were flying from all directions," Lee said.
As he sat in the car, refugee teenagers gathered around him, stole all his possessions and relief supplies, and ran away, he recalled.
"It happened in an instant. I had no idea where to start or what to do," he said. "But as Koreans, we went through times like this as well during the Korean War. We were refugees, too," he said.
Kim Moon-soo, the taekwondo grandmaster who has been teaching the sport since 2013, witnessed their transition as he taught them taekwondo.
Syrian refugee athletes carry a Korean national flag during the third edition of the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival at Za'atari camp, Jordan, May 1. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
"Everything changed as their minds changed," he said.
Traumatized from the atrocities of war at a young age, the children would take hours just to line up at the time, which made it impossible for him to proceed with any lesson. However, they soon turned disciplined and learned self-control and orders through training.
Many believe there is more to Za'atari's taekwondo academy than simply learning and teaching sports.
"My wish is to wipe away the tears of blood of these children. With strong minds and bodies, they will someday lead the future of their people. Some of these children might become a president and a prime minister one day, I can tell," Master Kim said.
"It's not only about teaching taekwondo, but about giving them guidance on how to live their lives. We try to help their integration into the Jordanian society through sports and education," Kim Yeo-jin said.
Al Nabilsi said, "When someone faces significant challenges, they tend to push themselves harder. Through this perseverance, they can accomplish anything in life. So, right now, I am sure that nothing is impossible. Everything is achievable, but it requires hard work. You have to give your best effort."