In alignment with our sustainable development goals for a more equitable environment for future generations, it is imperative to address reduced inequalities and violence against girls, which are global health challenges. Girls experience and fear violence in public spaces, restricting their freedom of movement and ability to participate fully in school, work, and public life.

 

Studies show that 75% of girls with low self-esteem engage in negative activities such as cutting, bullying, substance abuse, or disordered eating. Self-defense training helps girls develop easy-to-use techniques such as awareness, assertiveness, and verbal confrontation skills, along with safety strategies and physical techniques to prevent, resist, and escape assaults.

 

In collaboration with Phaidra Knight (The first “Black” American to be inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame and a professional Mixed Martial Artist), Every Girl self-defense and esteem-building workshops are designed exclusively for girls aged 13-19, focusing on training in awareness, physical conditioning, defense tactics, and improved self-esteem.

 

These workshops focus on two components, incorporating age-appropriate role-plays: (A) awareness exercises to cultivate a habit of identifying and redirecting intrusive thoughts through positive self-talk, and (B) assertiveness exercises and conflict resolution skill-building exercises to enhance self-esteem and decrease fear.

 

As psychologist Jeffrey Gadare, PhD, explains, our perception influences our ability to recall things about ourselves. Positive mental health begins with awareness, yet seven in ten girls struggle with feelings of inadequacy regarding their looks, school performance, and relationships. Cultivating healthy self-esteem enables girls to accept themselves and take pride in their achievements, fostering overall satisfaction and confidence. Every Girl's two-and-a-half-hour workshop is designed to provide skill training for girls aged 13-19, focusing on easy-to-use self-defense techniques and strategy-building for improved decision-making. The goal is to guide girls in increasing awareness, defending against, and/or escaping dangerous situations. Trauma-informed workshops include psychological skills and esteem-building training, resulting in reduced fear, increased self-confidence, and a greater sense of empowerment and self-worth among participants. Defense and situation analysis workshops encourage girls to think in terms of options and choices while developing awareness, assertiveness skills, and physical self-defense techniques to tap into their innate power.

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