History
In November 2019, the Guardian Girls program was first conceived as a commitment made by Shin Koyamada, Chairman of the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF), during the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Nairobi, Kenya—an event convened by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) together with the Governments of Kenya and Denmark. [4] Initially launched as a program of KIF, it subsequently entered a development and planning phase focused primarily on Africa.
In December 2019, KIF signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UNFPA, making UNFPA the first United Nations agency to join the Guardian Girls program as a Strategic Partner, with early efforts centered on African countries. [5] Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, on-the-ground implementation was temporarily paused, though strategic development and international coordination continued during this period.
Global Expansion
In May 2022, KIF signed a landmark MoU with the World Karate Federation (WKF)—the first international sports federation to partner on the Guardian Girls program—providing access to WKF’s global resources and network. [6] In October 2022, KIF, WKF, and UNFPA formalized a one-year trilateral MoU to launch the Guardian Girls Karate (GGK) project at a ceremony hosted at the Official Residence of the Japanese Consul General in Los Angeles. [7] As part of this launch, the partners held the first GGK Seminar, offering self-defense training and UNFPA-led educational sessions for women from the Greater Downtown Los Angeles area. [8]
In 2023, the GGK project expanded globally, with WKF, KIF, and UNFPA launching activities in seven countries: Spain, Ireland, Hungary, Egypt, Morocco, Japan, and the United States. [9] [10] [11] After the conclusion of the trilateral agreement, KIF resumed its bilateral MoUs separately with UNFPA and WKF to continue advancing the program.
In February 2024, KIF Colombia, the national chapter of KIF, together with UNFPA Colombia and the Embassy of Japan in Colombia—and in collaboration with the Colombian Aikido Federation (FCA) and the International Aikido Federation (IAF)—launched the Guardian Girls Aikido (GGA) program in Bogotá. [12] In May 2024, KIF Peru, UNFPA Peru, and the Embassy of Japan in Peru, in partnership with the Peruvian Aikido Confederation (COPA) and IAF, launched GGA at the Official Residence of the Japanese Ambassador. [13] [14] Guardian Girls Judo (GGJ)'s pilot project, was also implemented at the Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, UAE for its women students in collaborations with the International Judo Federation (IJF). [15]
GGI's Establishment
In late 2024, GGI was established as an independent international non-governmental organization under the umbrella of KIF to expand and manage its operations and projects worldwide. All Guardian Girls program rights and operations were subsequently transferred from KIF to GGI, which assumed responsibility for managing all program components, including GGK. That same year, GGI signed an MoU with the United Nations University (UNU)—its second UN partner—to develop and implement an international women’s conference series under the new Women in Peace (WIP) initiative. [16]
In January 2025, Shin Koyamada and his wife Nia Lyte were granted a private audience with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. During the meeting, they discussed potential collaboration on a new global project, later named the Holy Women Initiative (HWI)—a title chosen personally by Pope Francis. [17] In September 2025, GGI signed an MoU with the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF) at the federation’s global headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking its first major partnership with an ASEAN-based international sports federation and the formal introduction of GGI projects in the region. [18] [19] In November 2025, GGI signed another historic MoU with the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) to launch the Guardian Girls Ju-Jitsu (GGJJ) project during the opening ceremony of the Ju-Jitsu World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, further expanding the program into the global Ju-Jitsu community. [20]
Organization
The organization was established with the primary function of overseeing and coordinating its Guardian Girls projects with its global and regional partners and its Guardian Girls regional and national committees.
Continental organizations
The continental organizations’ primary objective is to promote GGI’s mission and activities at the continental level and to coordinate the work of regional and national committees. Each continental body is headed by a President and a Secretary-General.
- Guardian Girls Asia - Oversees the implementation and coordination of GGI projects across East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and Middle East and works with national committees throughout the region.
- Guardian Girls Europe - Facilitates GGI initiatives across Europe and supports regional and national committees in advancing GGI’s programs.
- Guardian Girls Africa - Leads GGI’s activities across the North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and works with national partners to implement and expand GGI projects.
- Guardian Girls Americas - Coordinates GGI programs across North America and Latin America and strengthens collaboration among national committees in the region.
- Guardian Girls Oceania - Manages GGI efforts across Oceania and supports national committees in expanding GGI’s mission in the region.
Guardian Girls National Committee
Guardian Girls National Committee (GGNC) is the national coordinating body established within a KIF national chapter or as an independent entity. GGNC is responsible for coordinating, promoting, and managing Guardian Girls projects implemented in each country in collaboration with national sports federations]] of partner international federations, United Nations agencies, national and local governments, local NGOs, and foreign missions. Each GGNC is headed by its President and governed by a board, with the Secretary-General serving as the head of administration. [21]
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