Living Safe and Strong
A Self Defense and Personal Safety Program for Girls ages 12-14
Living Safe and Strong is a violence-prevention and personal safety program for girls ages 12-14 that addresses the individual girl within the context of the larger community and societal issues. Living Safe and Strong engages girls in awareness, discovery, reflection and action on violence issues in their lives; increased knowledge of and familiarity with community resources; and advocacy around female violence prevention. The curriculum is divided into two phases:
During Phase One, the girls build mind, body, and spirit to better understand violence; develop and acquire a toolbox of strategies, including physical self-defense techniques, for avoiding or withstanding personal attacks and gender violence, and participate in self-awareness and team building activities that help create a communal sense of support and identification with other girls and women. During Phase Two, girls continue practicing physical techniques as they learn more about the violence issue of their choice, and plan and conduct an advocacy project to address that issue – often with the help of a community resource. The advocacy project reinforces the importance of addressing violence issues at the community and societal levels and the role that community and society must play for real substantive chance. This program is for girls only ages 12-14, however if there is a girl that is 15 or 16 who is seriously interested a consideration may be made.
Helping Girls Live Safer Lives
Many girls face violence somewhere in their communities (street violence, no safe place to go, neighborhoods that fear kids rather than protect them); at home (family violence); or at school (teasing, bullying, sexual harassment, verbal and physical fights). Addressing violence from a positive youth development perspective calls for strategies that support girls in growing up both nurtured and respected, reinforcing their right to be safe and making it less likely that they will experience violence or resort to it.
HOW VIOLENCE AFFECTS GIRLS Girls who experience violence are more likely to take risks with their health and safety. Girls who report having been physically and/or sexually abused are more likely than girls who have not been abused to have symptoms of high stress, depression and low self-confidence and are at high risk for substance abuse. Equipping girls will self-defense strategies promotes their physical autonomy, expands their repertory or effective responses to violence, and helps to open up their world.
Dates of the Program: Wednesday evenings 6-8pm at the Brigham Community Center. A more detailed schedule of dates will be given out during the program.
Cost: $300
For more information or to register: Contact Sarah Gillooly, Youth Specialist at 442-5174, ext 17 or by email
