This is the goal of a Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Kenya.
The group is not offering martial arts classes to the schoolgirls. But it is teaching the young women what to do if someone tries to attack them. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has financed the program since a report about sexual assault in Malawi was released last year.
The report found that one in every five girls under the age of 18 in Malawi has been sexually assaulted.
Loveness Thole is with Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa. She says the class teaches girls several different methods of self-defense.
“The curriculum involves both verbal and physical skills. With the physical skills, it's used only if it is the last and best option. So, meaning to say, we use mainly the verbal skills, which is how to use their voices to end assaults.”
The schoolgirls learn to shout for help or act like they see someone coming to trick their attacker. The girls also learn ways to disable an attacker so they can run away.
The NGO has been teaching these classes for two hours every week in seven districts around Malawi.
Project coordinator Simang’aliso Domoya says the group hopes to bring change to the country.
“At the end of the year, we would like to reduce the incidences of rape. We would also like to promote education by reducing early marriages, school drop-outs and also early pregnancies.”
At least 25,000 girls have been involved in the program.
Teacher Rebecca Msalanyama says before, girls were not reporting sexual attacks. But now some are feeling empowered to report incidents to teachers and parents.
One girl, named Shang Chituzu, said she has already had to use her skills.
“My uncle ordered me to lie on his bed,” she said. “When I asked him why, he started touching my body. I told him to stop and that I [would] report him to the police or my mother if he [continued]. After hearing this, he ordered me out of his room.”
The project is also teaching boys that they should respect girls. It also shows them how to become involved if they see a girl being assaulted.
Project organizers want to extend the self-defense program to students across Malawi. They hope there will be enough money to offer it nationwide.
Words in This Story
martial arts – n. any one of several forms of fighting and self-defense, such as karate and judo, that are widely practiced as sports
assault – n. the crime of trying or threatening to hurt someone physically
curriculum – n. the courses that are taught by a school or college
verbal – adj. relating to or consisting of words
district(s) – n. an area or section of a country, city, or town
drop-out(s) – n. a person who stops going to a school or college before finishing
uncle – n. the brother of your father or mother or the husband of your aunt