Two hundred young girls, between the ages of 11 and 18 years, will benefit over the next month from self-defence training under a programme organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
President Irfaan Ali yesterday launched the Girls-Only Self Defence Programme at State House, where he explained to participants that the objective was to impart them with “lifelong” skills.
“…We want to impart lifelong discipline and we want to impart something that is beneficial, something that will help them in the future. Something that will improve their own self confidence. Today we are living in a changing world. A world in which we must teach some elementary skills very early to children,” he said.
“Self-defense is not about fighting. …It is not training you to be fighters. It is training you to have basic skills in protecting yourselves, basic skills in protecting your friends, basic skills that requires discipline…It is not a fighting technique. It is a self-defense technique,” Ali added.
“In a world that is so gun violent and rushed to more equipment like those…the art of self-defence has been lost… and we want also to reignite that art and bring back that art to you the girls of our country,” he added.
The programme will see one-hour sessions being held three times a week over the next month.
Facilitators for the programme include members of the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Cabinet Ministers and senior members of the Joint Services, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus and Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham.
At each session, Ali said, a Cabinet Minister, career diplomats, ambassadors and other officials will be present to speak to the girls and build their self-confidence. “To let them know that they are part of a world that cares. A different world,” he said.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson encouraged the girls to take full advantage of the initiative.
“When you have opportunities like this…. It’s very important that you seize it,” Ramson said.
He told the girls that during the programme they will be given the opportunity to explore their hobbies and at the same time learn important skills. “We are trying to build the country, unite the country. We have to take care of it. It’s ours. The future is yours that’s why we are trying to provide that platform for you to advance it,” Ramson said.
Programme is expected to be extended to other regions.
Later this week, the ‘Art for life’ programme will be launched. It will be open to boys and girls who will be taught various art forms, such as painting, drawing and music.
