New partnership aimed at empowering teenage girls through self-defence

New partnership aimed at empowering teenage girls through self-defence

Hunter charity, Got Your Back Sista will soon be educating more young women about healthy relationships thanks to the support of the NIB Foundation.

It’s been selected as one of 10 charities to share in a $280,000 grant from the NIB Foundation aimed at curbing health challenges facing vulnerable youth.

With the funding, Got Your Back Sista (GYBS) will run self-defence classes for students across the five campuses of ALESCO Senior College, a secondary school offering an alternative to mainstream education.

Founder and CEO of GYBS, Melissa Histon said the new partnership will help instil more young women in the Hunter with the confidence to say no to domestic violence.

“To receive this grant is so amazing; it allows us to go into schools next year to teach and empower more teenage girls about what to do if they feel unsafe and what healthy relationships look like,” Melissa said.

NIB Foundation Executive Officer, Amy Tribe said the unique and personalised approach taken by the charity to deliver the targeted program for at-risk women was a real standout during this year’s grant round.

“Got Your Back Sista demonstrates a deep understanding of the needs of the people it serves,” Amy said.

“It will roll out a self-defence course developed in response to the growing rate of violence against women. Students will learn practical skills to better identify possible red-flags and protect themselves in a dangerous situation.”

Principal of Alesco Senior College – Raymond Terrace, Therese Pantalone said campuses in Newcastle, Cessnock, Raymond Terrace, Port Stephens and Tuncurry will all benefit from the program.

“A lot of our young people are from challenging, diverse backgrounds and are at risk of falling into unhealthy relationships, so having this opportunity is going to be wonderful to be able to teach them some skills that are a little bit harder to teach while we are focusing on the normal syllabus of a high school,” Therese said.

IMAGE | Got Your Back Sista is educating more young women about healthy relationships thanks to a grant from NIB Foundation.

Got Your Back Sista

As the registered charitable arm of The Sista Code movement, Got Your Back Sista’s vision is to see women and their children happy, thriving and living independently after escaping the trauma of domestic violence.

As such, Got Your Back Sista offers benevolent relief and support to women and children escaping domestic violence and are at risk of living below the poverty line. They give a hand up for them to begin again and live independently.

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