At a glance: Karate-based self-defence training building physical confidence and public-space safety skills for young women, run in repeated cohorts.
The starting problem
NUK's stakeholder research into sport for girls identified a consistent theme: many young women lacked confidence navigating public spaces independently, a barrier with knock-on effects for school attendance, workplace participation, and civic engagement.
What the project provides
- Structured karate-based self-defence instruction delivered in cohorts.
- A curriculum focused as much on confidence-building and situational awareness as on physical technique.
- Follow-up engagement connecting graduates to NUK's other youth and civic programs.
What graduates report
Participants completing the program have described increased confidence navigating public transport and public spaces independently — outcomes consistent across multiple completed cohorts.
Where it stands now
The project runs on a rolling cohort basis in Dhaka, with NUK exploring whether the model could be adapted for rural districts alongside its bicycle access project.