The third season of the highly acclaimed “Safety-For-All-Campaign” self-defence and personal safety initiative through taekwondo pioneered by Accra based Candance Academy has been launched with a target to reach 3,000 students in 10 schools in underserved communities this term.
A book teaching the basic rudiments of the sport titled, “Taekwondo For Us” written by Founder, Executive Director and Lead Instructor of Candance Academy, Hannah Humphrey was also launched at the Accra Sports Stadium, where some learners later showcased an impressive self-defence demonstration.
“Children may not always be able to control their environment, but they can be taught to understand it, navigate it, and protect themselves within it.That is the heart of the Safety-For-All-Campaign,” Hannah Humphrey said.
“We call for a partnership with individuals and corporate bodies to take safety education into more schools, support through sponsorships, resources, logistics, and technical expertise as well join in spreading awareness and reinforcing safety culture at all levels. Many can even make professional careers through this,” she said.
Founded by the awarding winning national taekwondo star in 2019 after four years of empowering kids, private schools and corporate bodies with taekwondo and other martial arts skills at Candance Academy, the programme priorities a collective responsibility for the wellbeing and safety of children. It has grown from a simple idea into a national initiative – one with real impact, real stories and real change.
Humphrey, who grew up in Takoradi where she learnt taekwondo skills at an early age before developing into a multiple national gold medallist in various categories and representing Ghana at the 2011 Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, was inspired to start the “Safety-For-All-Campaign” following the gruesome kidnap and murder of some number of girls in the Western Regional capital in 2018 when she had just returned to Ghana upon completion of a Global Masters Training Program in South Korea.
With the support of some Professors at the World Taekwondo Academy in Seoul, she developed and launched a comprehensive training program, with one of the Korean mentors coming to Ghana to personally help launch Season One.
Through unrelenting perserverance, the 3-day event that trained a few people and students of four basic schools developed to tutor over one thousand students in crucial safety and self-defence techniques by the end of Season 2 in 2023 where the novel strategy was to visit interested schools for a more direct and effective approach.
The quick success was recognised with a Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Award for Dedication and Valour in February 2025.
Endorsement and support has also come from the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the National Sports Authority (NSA) whose Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah commended Hannah Humphrey and Candance Academy for the incredible work done.
“Her dedication and perseverance is unbelievable. I have utmost respect for Candance Academy,” the NSA boss said.
“The book is written for easy understanding, it’s user friendly and also makes self-defence as an art, not a duty. It’s a breaking-the-ice book, she’s done mavelously well. I will recommend this book to every parents, schools and institutions to imbibe how to protect themselves if the need be,” he said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh