In Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, where children and youth are particularly vulnerable to the heightened impacts of climate change, limited green spaces and inadequate infrastructure compound the challenges they face. Our project specifically targets these communities, utilizing taekwondo, a Korean martial art, as a means to instill environmental consciousness and empower our beneficiaries to become agents of positive change.

Belt promotion tests, a key aspect of our initiative, are traditional assessments in taekwondo. However, our methodology goes beyond tradition. In these tests, we uniquely integrate environmental challenges, moving beyond the evaluation of physical abilities to create a profound connection between the sport and environmental responsibility. AJTKD consistently takes students to restore areas in Rio, focusing on Madureira and Sulacap. Through tree planting and ecosystem restoration, we empower youth not only to excel in taekwondo but also to actively contribute to a more sustainable city.