Online Reporter
Tendai Chara
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THIRTEEN karate instructors, drawn from five Southern African countries, yesterday completed a two-day training workshop whose long-term goal is to empower girls in the fight against gender-based violence.
Held under the Guardian Girls Karate Programme, participants were drawn from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
The Zimbabwe National Karate Federation hosted the training programme in partnership with the World Karate Federation and the continental body, the Union of African Karate Federations. Carol Grogan, the World Karate Federation Guardian Girls head instructor, briefly outlined the programme’s vision, impact and the implementation process.
“This programme is a global initiative using Karate to empower women and girls and to combat gender-based violence.
“The world over, cases of gender-based violence are increasing.
“The instructors here are going back to their respective countries where they are going to teach girls basic practical ways of defending themselves,” she said.
Antonio Espino’s, the president of the World Karate Federation flew in from Madrid, Spain, to officially launch the programme.
Also in attendance was Souleymane Gaye, the president of the Union of African Karate Federations.
The local body, the ZNKF have been working closely with both the international and continental federations in enhancing the growth of karate in Zimbabwe.
Yesterday’s high-powered delegation for the launch of the workshop, also included Sarah Wolff, the World Karate Federation chief executive officer.
Sensei Chipo Mashingaidze, a local instructor who took part in the programme, hailed the programme, calling it a game-changer and empowerment tool.
“This programme will make karate more accessible to girls from all backgrounds.”
“It equips women and girls with the knowledge to defend themselves.”
“It is an important empowerment tool for the girl child,” Mashingaidze said.
ZNKF president Joe Rugwete, outlined the benefits that Zimbabwe will accrue from hosting such a programme, especially against the background of the fact that gender-based violence has become more than a national problem but a global challenge.
Rugwete said by hosting the programme, Zimbabwe benefited more than other African countries.
“As the hosting nation, we benefited a lot. Four of our instructors took part.
“This programme will go a long way in developing karate in Zimbabwe,” Rugwete said.
