FEMNET | Self Defense with Dolphin Anti-Rape

Self Defense with Dolphin Anti-Rape

By FEMNET
23 Jan 2013

Dolphin Anti-Rape AIDS Control and Outreach came to our offices to carry out a basic self-defense training for FEMNET staff in January, 2013 so that we can all be prepared to defend ourselves in cases where we are at risk. Below is some information by Duncan Bomba about Dolphin Anti-Rape.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD-dv5PBtQM&w=560&h=315]
WHAT WE DO
We provide practical solutions to sexual violence through education and training of prevention and self protection strategies targeting all women,girls and children in women groups,schools and churches. Since 1998 we have directly reached and empowered over 1.6 million beneficiaries and thousands have successfully used the intervention to stop sexual abuse on their own. The youngest one was an 8 year old girl called Chelsi Feli in Kibera slum in the ear 2004 while the oldest to use the skills was a 65 year old woman called Ramah Omar in Garrisa in the year 2001.
WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE
We hope to reach and empower as many vulnerable population as possible not only in Kenya but also in the region(Sub Saharan Africa). These strategies have proved to work in Kenya and that is why we have replicated and shared them with others in Eastern D R Congo,Cape Town and Pretoria in South Africa and Kampala in Uganda. Recently we shared with 10 American women on holiday and we hope they will also share with others back in their country. The women came from California and South Lake Tahoe.
STRATEGIES WE USE

Prevention education to enlighten,caution and inform the vulnerable population on day to day lifestyles, circumstances and situations which lead to sexual abuse and how to identify and avoid them. Boys and Men are not left out as we also engage them to help change some of their negative attitudes,norms and behaviors towards women,girls and children so that they become part of the solution and not the problem.
Self protection skills training where we train the vulnerable population between 20 and 40 self defense skills which they can use to stop possible attacks from sexual violence perpetrators. The skills can work against one or more attackers,whether armed with ordinary weapons or not and no matter how strong attackers may be. One only needs 15% of her total strength to defend herself since the whole process is about surprise,speed and skill. Use what is free on you against what is open and exposed on the attackers. Use what is on you and around you as perfect weapons. You can use more than one skill to ensure that the attacker or attackers are no longer a threat to you. The purpose of this particular intervention is to disable and immobilize attackers for a period of 20 to 30 minutes to allow the potential victim enough time to get away from danger and if possible report for attempted rape. The strategy is also known as “Anti grab and counter technology for rapid response”.

TARGETS
Schoolchildren(girls and boys),Girls,Women and Men.
Duncan Bomba is a trainer at Dolphin Anti-Rape and can be reached at dolphin2002ke@yahoo.com or duncan@dolphinanti-rape.org. To learn more about the grassroots organization, visit their blog, website, youtube or facebook page.