FEATURE

The Syrian Refugee Karate Girls: Malik’s Story

Under the unforgiving sun in Jordan’s barren desert, 36,000 people seek shelter at Azraq Refugee Camp from Syria’s eight-year conflict.

But in the midst of a lifeless desert, springs an oasis of hope through an unlikely programme that seeks to empower young girls through karate.

Girls aged 8–17 years old train for one and a half hours every day with World Vision instructor Qamar Al-Kurdi, a former karate champion. Photograhy by Daniel Wheeler.

Twelve-year-old Malik has attended World Vision’s karate lessons at Azraq for one year. Her eyes light up as she describes her favourite part of the day.

“Life in the camp is difficult but when I started doing karate lessons, life became so much better and now I enjoy every day,” says Malik. “As soon as I finish school, I run to the sports field. When I’m doing karate, I feel so happy. Sometimes we drag our instructor out of her office and make her teach us more.”

Malik fled Syria when she was just six years old. She remembers being excited on the journey, completely unaware that she wasn’t going to return later that day. Photography by Daniel Wheeler.

Like many other parents in Syria, Malik’s father, Omar decided to make the perilous journey with his family to the Jordanian border in search of safety.

“If we had stayed in Syria, I fear that my children would have seen the fighting and the killing,” he explains. “I wanted to get them out of there — so they could have a life and a future.”

Malik’s father, Omar, came to Jordan with his family six years ago after fleeing the fighting in the Syrian city of Homs. Photography by Daniel Wheeler.

Almost half of the residents at Azraq are children. When not in school, girls often have little opportunity to leave their homes. Providing a safe space for the girls to do activities and have fun has become fundamental to the well-being of not only the children in the camp, but also to parents like Omar.

“It is difficult to not become depressed when living in a situation like this,” says Omar. “But I see how happy my daughters are after their karate classes, and I share their joy.”

Azraq Refugee Camp is home to 36,000 Syrian refugees. World Vision has worked in the camp since its construction in 2014. Photography by Daniel Wheeler.

Aside from the physical benefits of karate, the sport teaches the importance of self-discipline, and helps to build the confidence of the young girls.

At a recent event celebrating 60 years of Germany-Jordanian cooperation, Malik along with some of her other classmates had the opportunity to showcase her karate skills in front of both German and Jordanian government officials.

Malik shows off her karate skills in front of Dr Birgitta Siefker-Eberle, Ambassador of Germany to Jordan. Photography by Daniel Wheeler.

“We felt it was important to showcase the essential work we are doing with young Syrian refugees in Jordan,” explains Yazan Elhindi, ECD Programme Manager at World Vision. “The karate sessions are just a small component of our Early Childhood Development programme that benefits over 1400 children every month. Through a kindergarten centre, sports activities, music and art lessons, our goal is to improve the lives of children and provide them with life skills for the future.”

World Vision instructor Qamar, Malik and her friend Ashwaq, pose with Norbert Barthle — Parliamentary Secretary of State — German Ministry for Development & Cooperation (BMZ). Photography by Daniel Wheeler.

“I was so proud to see Malik perform at the event,” says Omar, her father, as he wipes a tear away from his eye. “She wants to be a karate instructor when she’s older and I am so grateful to World Vision for giving her this hope for the future.”

To find out more about the work of World Vision, please visit wvi.org.