Self Defence for 700 young girls in Nagpur, India

Dear friends of Karuna Germany,

From today until April 12th, GlobalGiving is matching your donation of up to $50 with 50%!

Please support women and girls in India today to gain self-confidence through self-defense training!

Here is how your donation is changing the lives of women and girls in India:

One aspect at the beginning of the self-defense training is to help women and girls open up and speak about their experiences. In Indian society, within their families, and social groups, it is rather uncommon to talk openly about experiences of violence or sexual harassment. The Prabodhini trainers aim to create an environment of trust and compassion so that the participants feel secure to share their experiences.

Most of the women and girls feel hopeless. They believe they have to endure violence, molestation, and sexual harassment. They fear that speaking out about such experiences or trying to stop the abuser might lead to more harassment. They believe they don’t have a choice and must tolerate the abuse. They are afraid to tell their parents or other family members because they think revealing they became victims of sexual harassment, rape, or molestation will cause them to lose respect and dignity. They fear judgment from society. They fear problems regarding marriage because they have lost their purity and virginity. They also lack trust in the police system. Often, their education and career have been negatively affected due to weak mental and physical health resulting from the experience of violence.

Participation in the self-defense training and discussions has led to a change in mindset and way of thinking. Women and girls who participated in the training experienced relief from mental stress. They overcame worries about having lost their virginity and became more aware of their bodies and their own responsibility for self-care. In the training, they discovered their physical strength and the significant influence of their mental attitude. They realized that instead of just blaming, they need to move forward in life. They have overcome remorse. Some girls gained the motivation to continue their education, enabling them to become self-sustainable.

The women and girls said that they feel confident and courageous. They now feel empowered to speak up against violence, and if they face violence, they understand how important it is to talk about it with family and friends.

Prabodhini has conducted 46 trainings in one year, during which 1044 young girls and women attended and benefited from the self-defense training.

Please donate today and enable 50% extra support for the girls! 

Links:

• Karuna Germany project website