Beyond Borders Episode 1: How Karate Became a Source of Hope and Belonging

Around the world, displacement continues to shape the lives of millions. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), by September 2025, the cumulative number of refugees registered in Indonesia was 11,900 persons from 54 countries, with majority of of the population are Afghan refugees (41%).

Behind these numbers are individual lives, aspirations and stories that statistics alone cannot capture.

This is why we are introducing Beyond Borders, a new series under Conversation of Change. We hope to create space for refugees to share their experiences in their own words.

For our first episode, we speak with Meena Asadi, an Afghan-born karate champion and founder and head coach of the Cisarua Refugee Shotokan Karate Club (CRSKC) in Bogor, Indonesia.

Originally from Ghazni, Afghanistan, she fled with her family to Pakistan amid conflict in Afghanistan. It was there, at the age of 13, she first encountered karate.

At the time, watching boys participate freely in sport made her question why the same opportunities were not always available to girls. Rather than accpeting those barriers, she challenged them.

Karate has been a source of strength throughout Meena's journey, and today, she is using it to create the sense of confidence, discipline and belonging for other young women and children.

Finding Strength Through Karate

Over the years, the martial art became a powerful part of her identity. When she first arrived in Indonesia, that means starting again in an unfamiliar environment and finding a way to build a community from the ground up.

Instead of allowing those limitations to stop her, Meena found a way to turn her experience into an opportunity for others. At CRSKC, young individuals come together not only to learn punches and kicks but to develop confidence and discipline.

During our conversation, she reflects on watching the students gradually growing into confident athletes and in some cases, being leaders to those around them. For Meena, seeing that transformation is one of the reasons she continues to do what she does.

Telling Her Story Beyond the Dojo

Meena has also documented her journey through her book, The Darkest Place. It is her firsthand account of escaping gunfire and the touching chronicle of war zone.

If you are a publisher who believes in the power of stories to create change, we welcome you to connect with us and explore how Meena's story could reach further.

Listen to the first episode of Beyond Borders on Conversation of Change.