Azraq refugee camp in Jordan is home to more than 40,000 refugees who have fled the continuing violence in Syria.

Children who have suffered, lost loved ones, and witnessed horrific atrocities can be forever altered by their trauma.

CARE helps them recover and get their lives back on track by providing a variety of educational, occupational, and community activities. One of those is the chance to participate and train in sports.

“When I worked with the Syrian children, I could see how their behaviour changed and it lifted their spirits,” said Coach Assef, a Taekwondo instructor whose first student was Wael, who had been living in the refugee camp for two years.

These initiatives, which supporters like you are helping provide, are giving children who have lost everything a second chance at life.

Wael, now 17, was a promising student since he commenced training in 2016. He never imagined that in 2020, his journey that began in a CARE-supported sports program would continue at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

 Watch Wael’s journey to the Olympics below.