马拉维女孩学习抵御性侵犯

AS IT IS 2016-10-02 Malawi Girls Learn to Defend Against Sexual Attack 马拉维女孩学习抵御性侵犯

Schoolgirls in Malawi are learning to defend themselves against sexual abuse.

This is the goal of a Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Kenya.

The group is not offering martial¹ arts classes to the schoolgirls. But it is teaching the young women what to do if someone tries to attack them. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has financed the program since a report about sexual assault in Malawi was released last year.

The report found that one in every five girls under the age of 18 in Malawi has been sexually assaulted.

Loveness Thole is with Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa. She says the class teaches girls several different methods of self-defense.

“The curriculum involves both verbal and physical skills. With the physical skills, it's used only if it is the last and best option. So, meaning to say, we use mainly the verbal skills, which is how to use their voices to end assaults.”

The schoolgirls learn to shout for help or act like they see someone coming to trick their attacker. The girls also learn ways to disable an attacker so they can run away.

The NGO has been teaching these classes for two hours every week in seven districts around Malawi.

Project coordinator² Simang’aliso Domoya says the group hopes to bring change to the country.

“At the end of the year, we would like to reduce the incidences of rape³. We would also like to promote education by reducing early marriages, school drop-outs and also early pregnancies⁴.”

At least 25,000 girls have been involved in the program.

Teacher Rebecca Msalanyama says before, girls were not reporting sexual attacks. But now some are feeling empowered to report incidents to teachers and parents.

One girl, named Shang Chituzu, said she has already had to use her skills.

“My uncle ordered me to lie on his bed,” she said. “When I asked him why, he started touching⁵ my body. I told him to stop and that I [would] report him to the police or my mother if he [continued]. After hearing this, he ordered me out of his room.”

The project is also teaching boys that they should respect girls. It also shows them how to become involved if they see a girl being assaulted.

Project organizers want to extend the self-defense program to students across Malawi. They hope there will be enough money to offer it nationwide.

Words in This Story

martial arts – n. any one of several forms of fighting and self-defense, such as karate⁶ and judo⁷, that are widely practiced as sports

assault – n. the crime of trying or threatening to hurt someone physically⁸

curriculum – n. the courses that are taught by a school or college

verbal – adj. relating to or consisting of words

district(s) – n. an area or section of a country, city, or town

drop-out(s) – n. a person who stops going to a school or college before finishing

uncle – n. the brother of your father or mother or the husband of your aunt

1 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

2 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

3 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

4 pregnancies   

怀孕，妊娠( pregnancy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Since the wartime population needed replenishment, pregnancies were a good sign. 最后一桩倒不失为好现象，战时人口正该补充。
• She's had three pregnancies in four years. 她在四年中怀孕叁次。

5 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

6 karate   

n.空手道(日本的一种徒手武术)

参考例句：

• Alice's boyfriend knew a little karate.艾丽斯的男朋友懂一点儿空手道。
• The black belt is the highest level in karate.黑腰带级是空手道的最高级别。

7 judo   

n.柔道

参考例句：

• The judo is a kind of fighting sport.柔道是一种对抗性体育活动。
• Which is more important in judo, strength or techniques?柔道运动中，力量和技术哪个更重要？

8 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。