Kwale children kick and punch to stay away from drugs and crime

They are warming up, preparing for the grand training of the day. All are engaged in vigorous activity in unison as directed by their leader Abubakar Hussein, 10.

The children have assembled to train inTaekwondo, a Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking.

Taekwondo is believed to have been invented between 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists.

It was officially declared an Olympic sport in 2000. To some observers, Taekwondo appears as a violent sport but that isn't the case for these children whose lives have been changed by it.

In Ukunda, the sport instils discipline and helps children to keep off from criminal gangs, teen pregnancies, drugs and substance abuse.

Kwale is one of the coastal counties that have a high number of drug addicts. Juvenile gangs that terrorise locals with pangas and knives were recently reported to be on the rise.

Msambweni and Matuga subcounties are the most affected.

Last year's statistics from Teens Watch, a Kwale youth affairs organisation based in Ukunda, showed that over 5,200 youth were addicted to drugs, many of them being minors below 18 years.

Kwale local authorities also attributed the increased cases of indiscipline in schools to drugs.

The children are addicted to bhang, muguka, tobacco and miraa among other drugs.

Ukunda Kick Martial Arts Club has come to reverse this trend.

Joshua Collins, 16, Sofia Kasim, 12, Hassan Mohammed,9, and John Kiong'o are among the many children who are benefiting from Taekwondo.

Collins, a student at Mvindeni Secondary School, said the sport has helped him concentrate on his studies and keep off from peer pressure.

"Taekwondo requires a high sense of discipline and with that it has enhanced my life principles," he said.

He joined Taekwondo while in Class 8. He is now in Form Two.

The boy said during training they are taught integrity, an indomitable spirit, self-control and perseverance.

Collins said with the five principles he has become hardworking, non-violent and resilient to drugs and criminal gangs.

It is same for Kasim, a Class 7 girl from Mwakigwena Primary School.

Kasim said she does Taekwondo to prove to the world that girls are not weak and can do well if exposed to equal opportunities.

Second, Kasim trains for self-defence to protect herself from sex predators.

She says many girls in her village are sexually abused and raped because they are unable to defend themselves.   

"I come from Kibundani where criminal gangs and defilement cases are rampant. Taekwondo will at least give me a chance to protect myself," she said.

Kasim said Taekwondo helps her and many other girls abstain from teen pregnancies and criminal activities.

Recently, religious leaders in the region decried the rise of girls in criminal gangs.

Kasim said she uses Taekwondo to reach out to many girls who are vulnerable and she has inspired many.

"Many girls in my village want to be like me, and I support them," she said.

The 12-year-old said she wants to join Kenya Defence Forces to keep on championing women's rights and respect.

Mohammed, one of the youngest and among the most determined Taekwondo trainees, said he wants to grow up with a good reputation and be productive member of society.

The boy said he doesn't want to end up in drugs and criminal dens and that's why he chose Taekwondo because they are trained to be good people.

Club coach and chairman Stephen Karisa Kalama said since the initiative has transformed the character of many children.

The club was formed and registered as a community-based organization in 2018. It is recognised by the Kenya Taekwondo Federation.

It has over 20 children, a mixture of boys and girls.

Kalama said many students have shown a high sense of discipline and parents are happy about it.

"Taekwondo is all about discipline and, amazingly, these children have demonstrated that," he said.

"Children get motivation and are able to get good virtues and become ambitious," he added. 

They train children from age five to adults of 85 years old to promote sports, fitness and suppress criminal activities among youth.

The coach said after the training they talk to the children mostly on the importance of respecting elders, helping parents at home and abstaining from drugs and teen pregnancies.

He said the awareness sessions have proved to be productive, adding that majority of the students doing Taekwondo are mentally and physically active and perform better academically.

During school holidays the children train every day in the evening from 3pm to 6pm when school reopens, they practice on Saturday and Sunday.

Kwale Taekwondo chairman Iddi Saidi Ndurya said they have also launched the sport in several primary and high schools in the region.

He said schools such as Mwanambeyu Girls and Rose Mwakwere High are among the learning institutions that have welcomed Taekwondo.

Ndurya said the sport has reduced indiscipline and arson cases in schools.

"Since we introduced Taekwondo calm has been restored in schools and homes," he said.

He said Taekwondo has changed the lives of thousands of youth in the region.

However, the Ukunda Martial Arts club is faced with a myriad of challenges especially lack of support.

At the moment the club members were kicked out of their training hall for being unable to pay monthly fees of Sh6,000.

Kalama said most of the clients are children who depend on their parents.

He said many parents can't afford tuition fees and the club depends on stipends from the parents and people who will be touched by their hard work.

Kalama said they only charge Sh1,000 as registration fees once for each person, which is not enough to run the club.

"Taekwondo is an indoor game but we are forced to train outside under trees for lacking money to pay rent," he said.

He said they have no proper equipment which is very risky. The chances of getting injuries are high while training.

Ndurya also said some parents are pulling their children out because some still have the perception that Taekwondo teaches violence.

He said other potential clients walk away because the club looks disorganised for lacking a training facility and equipment.

The two appealed for help from well-wishers and donors to support Taekwondo and nurture the talents of the young people.

Edited by Henry Makori