Girls in the Big Sister, Little Sister programme, founded by Safe Space Consultancy, learned practical ways to protect themselves during a self-defence session in Corinth on Saturday, October 17. The activity combined physical conditioning, defence exercises and health checks, with an emphasis on confidence and personal safety.
Programme founder Natasha Pascal said the session was designed to help participants understand how to respond when threatened, including by someone larger or stronger. “We’re not promoting violence. We’re promoting safety,” she told Saint Lucia Daily Post. “We never know what situations may arise.”
For Gabriella Popo, whose daughter participated, the training was timely and important given the dangers that can threaten a child’s safety. She said children can easily become distracted by their devices and other forms of modern technology, making self-defence training a priority for everyone.
The session formed part of the programme’s monthly activities and was its second self-defence exercise, following one held in May last year. Participants practised responding to different circumstances, including being threatened against a wall or confronted in an open space.
Pascal acknowledged that attendance was lower than usual, with fewer than 10 girls participating and approximately 12 to 15 people present overall, including their big sisters. However, she said the smaller turnout did not diminish the value of the experience.
“The numbers did not take away from what was learned,” Pascal said. She explained that the girls also benefited from exercise and an opportunity to release tension, while a nurse checked participants’ blood pressure.
Martial arts instructor and personal trainer Mattheus Leonce, who facilitated the session free of charge, said he combined strengthening exercises with interactive activities to make the lessons accessible. Participants began with body-conditioning exercises before progressing to coordination and defence work using rubber training sticks and striking bags.
Leonce said an important part of the training was encouraging participants to coordinate both hands. He also helped them move beyond practising against a stationary target to responding to a person who moves, acting as a practice partner during demonstrations.
The girls’ enthusiasm and willingness to ask questions impressed him. “They were raising their hands like they were almost in a class,” he recalled. “They were very into it, actually, and they picked up quite fine.”
“The girls did pretty well. I was really impressed,” Leonce added. He said their engagement made the session more enjoyable and helped them put the lessons into practice.
Leonce’s work with young people began before the COVID-19 pandemic and includes school activities and an after-school programme. He described the free training he provides for children as a way of giving back to the community.
Beyond physical techniques, he stressed that personal safety requires everyday awareness. “Be conscious of your surroundings,” he urged, encouraging people to remain attentive while using technology and exercise caution when travelling early in the morning or late at night.
Pascal also encouraged girls and young women to embrace opportunities to learn skills that could help protect them. “Whenever the opportunity arises, it’s best to take it,” she said.
