Colombian Ministry of Sports Launches The Academy Nationally
On August 27, 2025, the Ministry of Sports of Colombia, in partnership with the Guardian Girls Colombia (GGC) national committee, which is administered by KIF Colombia (the national chapter of the Koyamada International Foundation) under the global framework of Guardian Girls International (GGI), officially hosted the Opening Ceremony of the Guardian Girls Academy at the Ministry headquarters in Bogotá. This historic event marked Colombia as the first country in the world where a national government ministry has partnered with GGI through its national committee structure to launch the Guardian Girls project across multiple sports disciplines at the national level.
The ceremony was presided over by Patricia Duque Cruz, Minister of Sports of Colombia, who was joined by distinguished leaders and partners, including:
- Ms. Nia Lyte (Carolina Koyamada), President of Guardian Girls International and KIF Colombia
- Mr. Manuel Palacios Blandón, Deputy Minister of Sports
- H.E. Masahiro Takasugi, Ambassador of Japan to Colombia
- Ms. Sandra Patricia Ospina Valencia, Secretary General of the Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation of Valle del Cauca (Indervalle)
- Mr. Daniel García Cañón, Director General of the District Institute of Recreation and Sport of Bogotá (IDRD)
- All extended their greetings and support for the groundbreaking initiative.
Patricia Duque Cruz, Minister of Sports of Colombia:
“Today we celebrate the launch of the Guardian Girls Academy, a program that empowers women across Colombia. Through this partnership with the Embassy of Japan and the Government of Japan, we are giving women the tools to prevent violence and live with dignity and self-respect.”
H.E. Masahiro Takasugi, Ambassador of Japan to Colombia:
“The Guardian Girls Academy strengthens the friendship between Japan and Colombia with the support of the Government of Japan. By sharing martial arts such as Aikido, Judo, and Jiu-Jitsu, these traditions become tools to build peace, dignity, and respect, helping women create safe spaces and a more secure future.”
Nia Lyte (Carolina Koyamada), President of Guardian Girls International and KIF Colombia:
“We are honored to partner with the Ministry of Sports and the Government of Japan to bring the Guardian Girls Academy nationwide. Together, we will empower women in Bogotá, Cali, and Barranquilla with the confidence and skills to prevent gender-based violence.”
During the ceremony, Minister Patricia Duque awarded Nia Lyte for spearheading the first nationwide initiative by the Colombian government to empower women and combat gender-based violence through sports. Nia also presented the Minister with a traditional Japanese Yukata and offered regional sweets from Okayama, Japan—the hometown of her husband, actor and producer Shin Koyamada—to Ambassador Takasugi as a gesture of cultural friendship.
A National Effort to Prevent Violence Against Women
The Guardian Girls Academy in Colombia is part of a broader initiative launched by GGI in collaboration with governments, UN agencies, and sports federations in more than 20 countries. Through seminars, training sessions, and community outreach, the program equips women with personal security skills, self-defense tools, and the confidence to protect themselves, while promoting respect, equality, and solidarity.
In Colombia, the Ministry of Sports and KIF Colombia’s Guardian Girls Colombia (GGC) will jointly lead the national implementation of the Guardian Girls Academy. Guardian Girls Colombia consists of member organizations, including national sports federations and NGOs, which serve as implementing partners of its projects. Among these are the Colombian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the Colombian Judo Federation, and a national Aikido organization.
The Academy will be delivered once a week for two months, offering structured training sessions that combine martial arts techniques, personal security strategies, and empowerment workshops. Applications will be opened for women over the age of 18 who wish to participate in training designed to strengthen their skills, increase their confidence, and contribute to building safer and stronger communities.