KATHMANDU, Nepal (August 3, 2019) - The opening ceremony of World Taekwondo (WT) Cares projects for Nepal was held in Kathmandu, Nepal on August 3, 2019.
The Nepal Taekwondo Cares projects for reformatory inmates and female victims of home violence are jointly supported by WT and the Asia Development Foundation (ADF). Under agreement, the Nepal Taekwondo Association carries out the Nepal cares projects for 2019.
The opening ceremony drew hundreds of people, including 88 students from two reformatory inmate centers - the Prisoner Assistance Nepal and the Early Childhood Development Center - and 162 students from four women empowerment centers - Rakshya Nepal, Genesis Academy, Aasha Nepal and Maiti Nepal - all in downtown Kathmandu. The ceremony was held at the National Taekwondo Academy in Lalitpur, Nepal.
The two WT Cares projects for Nepal started in early April 2019 for a one-year period. Under agreement with WT in January 2019, the ADF financially supports the Nepal Cares projects.
Among the dignitaries attending the ceremony were WT President Dr. Chugnwon Choue; ADF Vice President Nam-chul Choue; Honorable Jagat Bahdur Sunar Bishwakarma, minister of youth and sports of Nepal; Mr. Pitambar Timilsina, vice president of the National Sports Council; Honorable Jeevan Ram Shrestha, president of the Nepal Olympic Committee; and Nepal Taekwondo Association President Prakash Shumsher Rana.
Also on hand at the ceremony were Mr. Rick Shin, secretary general of WT Pan America; Mrs. Selma Li, president of GCS International Portland, USA Chapter; and Grand Master Jay-kyun Shin, better known as the "father of Nepal taekwondo."
During the ceremony, WT President Choue delivered an honorary WT Dan certificate to the Nepal sports minister and the National Sports Council vice president. Dr. Choue also gave WT appreciation plaques and appreciation certificates to Nepali dignitaries in recognition of their dedication to the development of taekwondo in Nepal.
The ceremony featured taekwondo demonstrations by the Nepal Taekwondo Association Demonstration Team and students of the 2019 Nepal Taekwondo Cares programs.
"I wish to thank the Nepal Taekwondo Association and the Asia Development Foundation for supporting these Nepal Taekwondo Cares projects. We want to keep expanding these Cares programs in Nepal," said WT President Choue in the ceremony.
He continued to say, "Through taekwondo education and training, I wish you to grow up as good global citizens and hope that some of you will become champions of international taekwondo championships."
Earlier in the day, there was an opening ceremony of a peace statue at the U.N. World Heritage site of Swoyambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The peace statue was dedicated to the founder of GCS International, the late Dr. Young Seek Choue, who proposed the United Nations promulgate the U.N. International Day of Peace in 1981 and the 1986 Year of Peace.
The peace statue text reads: "During the massive earthquake in April 2015 in Nepal, the World Taekwondo carried out an earthquake relief project in Nepal. that project acted as a pilot program for the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, which was established in April 2016. Such initiatives and movements are closely following the spirit and philosophy of Dr. Young Seek Choue's GCS Movement."
Check the highlights of WT Taekwondo Cares Prgram for Nepal 2019 by clicking here!
