Program Detail
Our Curriculum Overview
Program Overview
Smart + Safe is an integrated safety course that prepares adolescent girls with practical self-defense techniques, digital safety awareness, and confidence building strategies.
-
- Mind (Street Smarts & Awareness): Guided discussions and scenario based preparation for common risks such as walking alone, peer pressure, parties, dating, and online interactions.
- Body (Self-Defense Skills): Simple martial arts-based techniques (Kajukenbo) that focus on stances, strikes, and escapes designed for teens to recall under stress.
- Confidence in Action: Time to reflect, practice using their voice, setting boundaries, and connecting physical and awareness skills to daily life.
Session Overview
The four sessions are designed to address the major aspects of safety that adolescent girls need as they move through the world, building from awareness, to boundaries, to real-life preparation, and finally to integration of digital and physical safety
Week 1: Awareness & Voice
Focuses on situational awareness and assertive communication. Girls learn that confidence in how they carry themselves and clarity in how they use their voice are the first tools of safety.
Week 2: Boundaries & Escapes
Centers on recognizing when boundaries are crossed and responding decisively. The goal is for girls to practice saying “no” without hesitation and to connect that refusal to physical strategies when words alone are not respected.
Week 3: Real-Life Scenarios
Applies safety concepts to the situations adolescent girls are most likely to encounter: unwanted attention, unsafe transportation, or social settings that carry risk. Emphasis is on planning ahead, recognizing warning signs, and knowing how to respond if a situation escalates.
Week 4: Digital Safety & Integration
Expands the focus to the digital environment, where many risks now originate. Girls connect what they have learned about awareness and boundaries to online spaces, while also reviewing and integrating the practical safety strategies acquired throughout the course.