Fri Jun 19 13:51:42 UTC 2015
Over 100 000 female learners have been trained in self-defence techniques through the Shoprite Self-defence Schools’ Programme which started in 2003. In addition, the Shoprite’s Stay Safe Women’s roadshow has visited 12 towns in the Western Cape since June last year and close to 1000 women and children have been empowered with basic self-defence skills to protect themselves.
This Saturday, 20 June, the women and children from the Bredasdorp community will have the opportunity to attend a three hour self-defence workshop free of charge. The team of instructors is led by Sanette Smit, an 8th Dan karateka and acclaimed self-defence practitioner of more than 30 years standing.
Speaking about programme, Sanette said that the gift of empowerment enables women to stay safe at home, at work and at play. By developing self-protection skills, heightening awareness and practising basic highly effective self-defence techniques, women are given options and choices. “Through the practice of self-defence, women and girls are recognising their own strengths and capabilities and acknowledging that it's ok to fight back. Your body is the weapon and you take it wherever you go.”
Seeing the positive impact that the programme has made Principal of Weber Gedenk Primary School in Stellenbosch, Bernhard Williams, shared his thoughts: “Many of the children come from difficult and sometimes desperate circumstances and they are often confronted with potentially dangerous situations, so this programme can definitely help them learn skills that will enable them to get out of such situations.”
Shoprite is committed to the safety of women and children in South Africa and their support of this initiative make self-protection methods more accessible and allow people to better cope in communities where violent attacks on women and children have become an unfortunate commonplace. After a year of providing these self-defence workshops in various Western Cape towns, it is clear that the need for such programmes in other communities throughout the country cannot be ignored.
The Shoprite Stay Safe workshop in Bredasdorp will be held at the Community Sports Hall, also known as “Die Glaskasteel” on the corner of Recreation and Church Streets on Saturday, 20 June 2015 from 13:00 - 16:00 with registration commencing at 12:30. For more information please contact the Self-Defence Office on 021 461 0036 from 14:00 daily or via email margaret@selfdefence.co.za or smit@selfdefence.co.za
Follow the campaign activities at www.facebook.com/ShopriteStaySafe or watch a video here: http://bit.ly/ShopriteStaySafe
