Judo For Peace Since 2013, the Judo for Peace (JFP) Commission has been extremely active in different areas of the world.
Activities have been focused on three kinds of region: conflict, post-conflict and socially disordered.
Some of the projects led by the JFP Commission are purely peace projects, while in others, JFP is part of more global programmes such as the Judo Educational Journeys (JEJs) through the likes of China, Canada and Oceania.
The International Judo Federation (IJF) has a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), whose youth leadership training camps are regularly participated in by the JFP Commission.
The JFP Commission collaborates with the other IJF Commissions involved in education and particularly with the Educational and Coaching Commission and the Judo for Children Commission.
IJF President Marius Vizer is certain that Judo for Peace programmes are having a positive impact ©IJF JFP programmes
From 2015, with the support of the Turkish Judo Federation, the IJF has been developing a large programme in Syrian refugee camps within 60 kilometres of the city of Aleppo.
JFP is also present in the Maheba and Dzaleka refugee camps in Zambia and Malawi respectively, hosting thousands of African refugees.
For many years, the IJF has also been present in the Great Lakes region of Africa and provides logistical, financial and human support to lay the foundations for a more prosperous future in Burundi and Rwanda.
“The philosophy and pragmatic approach of our Judo for Peace programmes, combined with other educational value-added actions, allow us to be present at all levels of society, whether in areas of armed conflict or areas with social problems,” IJF President Marius Vizer says.
“I can guarantee that all those programmes have a positive impact on the beneficiaries.
“The challenges are numerous and our efficiency is increased with our strong and effective partnerships with the United Nations, for example, or with the Olympic Movement or with internationally-renowned organisations such as Peace and Sport.”
In 2022, in response to the continued humanitarian crises around the world, the IJF launched two initiatives to assist people affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The first was aimed at refugees and the second was targeted specifically at judoka.
Thanks to George Teseleanu and his team, the Ukrainian Judo Federation and the IJF, 300 children were evacuated to Romania where they can continue to practice the sport.
Thirty-four young judoka from Ukraine now also train in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Judo for the World Movies In 2015, the International Judo Federation (IJF) launched a series of movies called Judo for the World (JFTW) to illustrate how judo can change the lives of young people around the globe.
Focusing on the educational dimension of the sport, the JFTW series features children and young adults as well as "big names" of the sport, whose lives have been deeply impacted by judo.
Each movie, which are five to six minutes long, focuses on different characters and shows them not only on the tatami but also in their daily life and environment, with their friends and relatives.
An artistic and original approach was chosen in a bid to emphasise the stories.
The movies are promoted on social media, integrated into the IJF event highlights, and proposed to all television stations broadcasting judo.
All episodes are set to be brought together within one single 26-minute film.
South Africa In March 2020, a film was released about judo in South Africa.
The film focuses on the Hillbrow neighbourhood, which is infamous for its high level of crime.
Recently, the IJF and Judo South Africa partnered up to initiate a large-scale programme with the support of local authorities, non-governmental organisations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Roberto Orlando of Italy, a graduate of the IJF Academy, is the coach and mentor of the programme.
Jordan In January 2020, a film was released focussing on Jordan.
It covered a trip made to the former Edomites capital of Buseira, which has produced most of the Jordanian national team despite being home to just 30,000 people.
Judo was first introduced to the desert town in 2003 by people who had learnt the sport in the army.
Since then, Buseira has turned into a breeding ground for talent and there is a judo club in the centre of town.
Canada In December 2018, the IJF visited the far north of Canada and met with indigenous people who are practicing judo. People from various communities came together to train in some of the country’s most isolated areas.
The IJF also visited Canadian city Montreal, where a Grand Prix event was held in July 2019. They met London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Antoine Valois-Fortier and passionate judoka Sarah Mazouz.
Italy In August 2018, the IJF went to meet the Maddaloni family in the heart of the popular Scampia neighbourhood in the Naples area of Italy.
Confronted with serious social problems, the local population faces a sometimes complicated life.
The Maddaloni Dojo is a major player in social peace.
