The former desk editor at insidethegames is now living and working in the Jordanian capital Amman.

He met with Farah Al Asaad, the THF's Middle East and North Africa coordinator, at the Academy which teaches taekwondo to children displaced by the war in neighbouring Syria.

Palmer also met the Academy's coach Asif Sabah and some of the young athletes, before watching them practice.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue announced his plan to establish the THF in his speech at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, on the 2015 International Day of Peace. 

It aims to teach the sport and stage educational programmes with refugees and displaced people around the world.

As well as Jordan, projects are up and running in countries including Turkey, Rwanda, Djibouti, Burundi and Nepal. 

"It was fantastic to visit the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation at Azraq and see the superb work being done with youngsters who have faced things that I can't even imagine," said Palmer.

"It was an extremely humbling experience."

A Big Read about Palmer's visit is due to published on insidethegames on Sunday (October 6).