Karate Creates New Opportunities for Children in El Salvador Through WKF and SOS Children’s Villages Partnership

The World Karate Federation (WKF), the Karate Federation of El Salvador (FSK) and SOS Children’s Villages International have taken the first step in their new global cooperation agreement with the launch of karate activities in El Salvador, marking a landmark moment for the sport and its growing social impact.

The programme officially began with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Salvadoran Karate Federation (FSK) and SOS Children’s Villages El Salvador at the Santa Tecla Community Centre in La Libertad. The ceremony brought together FSK President Oswalds Mata, SOS Children’s Villages El Salvador National Director Patricia Flamenco, Santa Tecla Director Miguel Escobar, and FSK Technical Manager Williams Serrano.

The agreement is part of the global partnership recently signed by the WKF and SOS Children’s Villages International to deliver structured karate programmes for children and teenagers living in SOS Children’s Villages around the world. The initiative promotes physical activity, discipline, inclusion and personal development through regular karate practice.

El Salvador becomes the first country to put this international partnership into action. The programme will also be introduced in 2026 in Georgia, Latvia, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Senegal and Switzerland, with plans to expand to more countries in the future.

Supported by the WKF, the Salvadoran Karate Federation will contribute by designating a qualified coach to teach once a week for a minimum period of one year while coordinating the overall delivery of the programme.Classes will begin on July 2 and will welcome children, teenagers and young people from communities surrounding the Santa Tecla Community Centre.

"The agreement has a positive impact on the work we do as a federation in terms of promoting the sport to the wider public,” said FSK President Oswalds Mata. “The aim is to foster the disciplinary and philosophical aspects of karate in children.”

“This partnership is a milestone for SOS Children’s Villages; the opportunity arose through the World Karate Federation, and El Salvador has benefited from it. We are confident that it will be of great benefit,” said Claudia Sagastume, director of development at SOS Children’s Villages.

This initiative further reinforces the WKF's long-standing commitment to creating a positive social legacy through karate. The partnership with SOS Children’s Villages complements other WKF social programmes, including Guardian Girls Karate, its collaboration with the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations through the Sport for the #OneHumanity campaign, Green Karate, and other sustainability and development initiatives.