Race walking, a sport that won Ecuador its only gold medal, is giving hope to some Colombian refugee children a chance at a new life in Ecuador. The Race Walking School in Cuenca, which is known for the training of Ecuador's finest athletes has opened its doors to the refugees in hopes the program will help children settle into their new life.
"Joakim Daun, a Swedish intern with the UNHCR office in Cuenca, came up with the idea of starting the scholarship programme. A former athlete, Daun said he recognized the power of sports as a tool for personal development and as an engine for integration."
According to UNHCR estimates, Ecuador is home to at least 180,000 people who have fled Colombia because of the internal conflict in that country. Only 55,000 have applied for asylum.
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