Representing JAZ were General Secretary Mr Mabvuto Ng’uni and Administrative Director Ms Carol Chipupu. NIF’s delegation included Mr Rune Arctander, Ms Susanne Brovold Hvidsten and Ms Pernille Ingebrigtsen Dalheim. They were accompanied by Ms Misozi Daka, coach of the Maheba Judo for Peace programme, and Mr Justine Mushalwayo, programme secretary, both driving forces behind the daily implementation of judo values on the ground.
Before meeting the young athletes, officials reviewed the programme’s progress and long-term impact. Ms Chanda praised its strong influence on refugee youth, noting that judo protects them from negative influences while building discipline, health and vital life skills. Her message echoed the purpose of the IJF’s Judo for Peace vision: to provide structure, dignity and hope through the universal values of judo.
Mr Ng’uni highlighted the origins of the programme, emphasising that Maheba was the very first Judo for Peace project implemented in Zambia in partnership with the IJF and NIF. What began as a modest initiative, guided by the IJF’s humanitarian strategy, has now expanded across borders into Malawi and Zimbabwe. He also reaffirmed JAZ’s commitment to offering refugee athletes pathways to national and international competition, an ambition fully aligned with the IJF’s mission to use judo as a tool for both sporting excellence and social transformation.
For several years, the Maheba Judo for Peace programme has stood as a shining example of the IJF’s belief that sport can be a force for unity, inclusion and resilience. Under the guidance of the Judo for Peace Commission, the initiative provides far more than athletic training, it offers young refugees confidence, community and the courage to build a future beyond their circumstances. The joint visit from JAZ and NIF served as a powerful reminder that such impact is only possible through strong partnerships and unwavering support.
The Maheba Judo for Peace programme embodies the core mission of the International Judo Federation and its Judo for Peace Commission: to use judo as a catalyst for peace, opportunity and human dignity. With continued collaboration between the IJF, JAZ, NIF and the UNHCR, the programme will keep empowering young refugees, one throw at a time, helping them build not only physical strength but also confidence, resilience and hope for a better tomorrow.