Our original curriculum combines physical self-defense skills with self-reflective activities that include group discussions, role plays and journaling. By integrating these two components, we give girls a chance to develop assessment skills, increase awareness of extreme threat and internal signals, and to practice making decisions in threatening situations then to reflect on what happened. Participants also learn about setting personal boundaries, conflict de-escalation, characteristics of healthy relationships, situationally-appropriate ways to say “no” and self-advocacy. Furthermore, by validating girls’ experiences and feelings about violence, LEAP helps girls to build self-esteem and confidence. Many of the skills learned in Girls’ LEAP – communication, confidence, conflict resolution and self-advocacy – are also underpinnings of success in academic and professional pursuits.
If you or someone you know is interested in enrolling in one of our current programs, click here.
If you are interested in hosting a Girls’ LEAP Program, please fill out our Host Site Application.
“Before I started Girls’ LEAP I didn’t know how to say ‘NO’, and now I can scream it!” -Girl, age 14
