The Guardian Girls Karate programme experienced a major breakthrough last month, as Shin Koyamada and Nia Lyte, Chairman and President of Guardian Girls International, were honoured with a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The meeting recognised their global humanitarian work, philanthropic efforts through the Guardian Girls project, and contributions via the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF).

During the audience, Mr Koyamada and Mrs Lyte presented the milestones of the Guardian Girls Karate programme, a collaborative initiative as a result of the agreement of KIF, the World Karate Federation (WKF), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Initiated in 2022 and supported by the government of Japan through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the programme aims to empower women and combat gender-based violence through the practice of Karate.

Since its launch, the Guardian Girls Karate initiative has been expanding globally, and it’s now achieving worldwide outreach through the 200 National Karate Federations members of the WKF. The first countries to join the programme were Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. Many more additions to the programme will occur in 2025 following the interest of the rest of the WKF National Federations.

Mr Koyamada and Mrs Lyte’s private audience with Pope Francis underscored the growing global impact of Guardian Girls Karate and reinforced the importance of supporting initiatives that promote safety, confidence, and strength for girls and women worldwide.

As part of the customary exchange during private audiences, Mr Koyamada and Mrs Lyte presented Pope Francis with gifts symbolizing both Japanese heritage and the mission of Guardian Girls as well as the organization’s commitment to world peace, safety, and the empowerment of women and girls.

Among the gifts was the Official Guardian Girls Uniform T-shirt, a framed special edition T-shirt signed by Koyamada and Lyte, featuring the Pope’s name.

Shin Koyamada, a Karate black belt, and Nia Lyte have collaborated closely with WKF in the promotion and development of the Guardian Girls Karate programme.

For more information about Guardian Girls Karate CLICK HERE.

Pictures: © Vatican Media