Dana

In Dana’s community, there was lots of violence and poverty, but not many services or opportunities for an eleven-year-old girl like her. She didn’t feel safe, and didn’t speak up very much.

Then she joined an all-girls club.

The program was specifically designed to help at-risk girls like Dana feel in control of their environment and improve their physical safety. She learned how to stay safe when on the internet and when at home alone. She took part in group discussions with the other girls, where they talked about issues like conflict resolution. She learned how to voice her opinions but also to listen to others with attention and respect. She developed more self-awareness and self-esteem.

For Dana, the best thing about the program was doing something new every week.

That included learning Wen Do, a form of self-defense designed for girls and women. During one of the classes, to her own surprise Dana actually broke a wooden board with her bare hands.

Dana’s mother is thrilled that her daughter had the opportunity to learn new skills, and to learn to speak up more, in such a supportive and progressive environment.

“No longer are girls only to be seen and not heard,” she says.