GIZ Egypt: WenDo self-defence workshop with awareness raising session

Documentation of the event:

egypt1

WenDo Workshop (GIZ Egypt) – 12 female colleagues from GIZ Egypt participated in a basic WenDo training workshop organized in the framework of the GIZ Gender Week 2016. WenDo is a holistic self-defence approach that teaches participants to successfully deal with everyday assault situations and which takes their individual needs into consideration. WenDo goes beyond the concept of teaching physical techniques as it includes discussion modules as well as exercises on voice, looks, body language and self-assertion.

The two-day workshop took place on 9 and 10 March 2016 at the Swiss Club in Imbaba, Cairo. Schirin Salem (pic: 1st row left wearing a WenDo T-shirt and hat) who is the initiator of WenDo in Egypt held the class and taught the participants a variety of tools to protect their personal space and fend off unwanted attention. During the workshop the participants were introduced to the Anti-Sexual Harassment and Exploitation Policy which aims at securing a work environment free of sexual harassment within GIZ Egypt.

 

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When: 9.03.-10.03.2016

Where: Swiss Club, Imbaba, Egypt

With: GIZ colleagues

What: WenDo self-defence workshop with awareness raising session on the Anti-Sexual Harassment and Exploitation Policy in Egypt

WenDo is a self-defence technique taught by women for women. Currently, there are 25 female trainers trained in Cairo and Mansoura and other governorates and who are actively implementing courses on a private basis or through cooperation with civil society organizations.

In the framework of the Gender Week, an open call to all female GIZ colleagues has been launched to experience this one of a kind training, to learn about physical techniques, self-assertion, body language and looks. The aims of this training are a) To strengthen women in their daily interactions, b) To strengthen their mobility in public space by increasing their self-confidence through the acquired techniques and c) To be able to fend off unwanted attention and sexual harassment approaches.

The national Anti-Sexual Harassment and Exploitation Policy will be introduced in the course of the training to sensitize the participants about the topic and to provide a harassment and exploitation free environment.