I'm Worth Defending - Testimonials

Amelia Awuor

I think it will be important to tell you that I was attacked together with one of my friends called Christine by thugs and thank God I managed to rescue her together with me. They were two men and it happened that they wanted to snatch the properties that we were carrying and immediately they got hold of me then I was like 'What tools - What target' believe it, it worked since I used the power on my hips to turn around and then using my elbow I happened to hit him on the vulnerable upper part of his body, and while he was undergoing the pain I got hold of his head and hit it using my knee, and because my friend was still struggling to get off the attacker I managed to hit his ribs and I got hold of Christine's hand leaving everything we had and ran away for our lives. I was so happy that I made it and I even shed tears for the courage that I had and the yell that drew people near. I thank God for your teachings they encourage me each and everyday of my life knowing that I am worth defending, a woman of power, a woman of noble purpose just like you. Right now in my school people especially ladies are so much interested in knowing how to use the ‘tools and targets' that they have, since they are always interested when they see me doing exercises everyday and when I get to tell them of how to defend themselves, some of them are victims of rape. I love you and you mean a lot to me. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING THERE FOR US.

Rose MKWAK

I was walking on my way home from work when suddenly a man held on to my hand. When I looked at him I recognized that I didn't know him. The first thing that came to my mind was what's free what's open. At that moment I also remembered one of the releases and I surprised the man by coming out of the grab and yelled at him as loud as I could. I really want to thank IWD for giving me the skills with which to defend myself.

Sarah R. Finkelstein

I wanted to contact you directly and tell you how inspired and impressed I have been by I'm Worth Defending. I am a law student at Wash U and here with three of my classmates. We started talking with Emily and instantly became intrigued by the organization. I've been in Ghana and Kenya for 5 weeks and spent last summer in South Africa, and IWD is by far the best community based organization I have come across. Not only are the services IWD provides the community novel and necessary, but the staff members are sincere and skilled at working with the community. Shelia and Emily are empowering self-defense instructors. Andrew, Peter, and Alfred know how to talk to young boys and get the message across - it was incredible to watch. Shelia took us to the Baby Daycare program last week and we had such a wonderful time with the children. It provides such a vital service to the community and we can't wait to go back.

Mrs. Muthui – Deputy Head teacher Kariobangi Primary School

When you first came to our school, I really did not know what to expect and thus had my doubts bearing in mind that you're so young. I thought I knew so much when it comes to handling teenagers. But after listening and seeing what you people are capable of doing, I realized that I need more training on counseling so that I can help these children. I convict myself for having done so many ills to the children by shouting to them about their situations while I should have helped them by talking to them in confidence. You MUST come back to our school no matter the workload that you be having. Please promise us that you'll come back!

Alfred Makabira

We've just arrived from one of our teen girls classes in Kibera and you can bet the response was as good as you'd expect. However, on our way back, somewhere around Eastleigh [along Juja road], we were caught up in a nasty police vs robbers car chase/ shoot- out that eventually ended up in a bloody carnage around Huruma flats. The whole saga was scary but, something deep down kept on telling me that IWD has a purpose and that no matter what the situation was, we would make it through and continue doing what we are meant to do i.e. ''Serving Humanity.'' Good shall always prevail over evil and indeed we made it.

Phil Tosh

On Monday, we had a training session with some fourteen commercial sex workers at a place called Kiamaiko which is adjacent to Huruma. You wouldn't believe the stories we heard from them particularly their experiences on the streets of Nairobi. When it came to the physicals, you can't imagine the rage and force with which they hit at the bags. We even had to repair the Everlast bag after that session.

When it came to Full Force Drill they urged each other on by telling the one hitting to kill the burger and mentioning the name of a particular person at the moment. When we inquired later on during the closing remarks about the people they were mentioning, they told us that those were the names of the most notorious rapist within their area and apparently almost all of them had been raped by those particular people.

Rape Survivors Anonymous is going to grow big since they promised to join our ladies for today's session thereafter they can form one within their own backyard. Tell you what, I always thought that I was a very strong person, but those ladies showed me that I really had a soft spot and that I could burst to the point of shedding tears.

Flora – Adult woman Koch

I encountered this rogue man who will not let go of my hand. I had doubts about what I had learnt from IWD and whether they really worked. So here God was presenting me with an opportunity to try the skills and find out for myself there effectiveness. I started by using the broken record when the man tried to lure me to go with him to his house. He did not listen and I believe it due to the fact that I was not assertive enough and thus it only served to make him come even more strongly to me. I thought of another verbal skill since I did not want to venture into physical yet. I then decide to make a scene and guess what, before I knew it the man was gone and I didn't even see which way he went. Now I can tell the world an d mainly the women that the skills truly works you only need to be assertive.

Mama Nyash – Shosho from Koch

Just show me the strongest of men and I'll show you how to bring him down. I was going to my farm on Tuesday morning when a certain crazy man decided that he had landed a golden opportunity to cheap “meat”. He started following me the moment he noticed that I had turned around a corner away from the public eyes. My instincts told me immediately that he had bad intentions. Upon that realization I became on guard and since I was now approaching my farm I thought he was going to use the opportunity to try and rape me there since I had nothing of value with me. When he inched closer I started calling names so that he would believe that I was not entirely alone. I went to the extent of telling them to bring with them the machetes and hoes since there was an intruder who wanted to harm me. To my dismay, the trick worked since the man turned away and fled as fast as his legs could carry him. My advice to the women and shoshos; do not ignore what you're being taught by these “children”.

Emily

After one of the classes in Njathaini Primary school, one of the boys was seen by the other boys trying to provoke a girl who had taken the Self-Defense class. He was telling the girl to try and use the techniques on her if she really believed tat she was tough. The other boys ran to him and told him to stop what he was doing and be a gentleman. They reprimanded him for not adhering to what he was taught in the boys class. On realizing his mistake he apologized to the girl and walked away with his head down.

Phil Tosh

Indeed like you pointed out the boys class is the class I really and surely would very much want to take part in. IT IS SO SO INTERESTING. The issues that are coming up particularly in RULE number FOUR - NO MEANS NO and RULE number FIVE are heart renting. The controversies, myths and misconceptions surrounding Masturbation in this community is shocking. However, I'm glad to report to you that we've managed to respond to every issue raised and we have become celebrities in this community. This is simply because we have touched the hearts of many people including children who have met us. In every place that we've been to, we are being requested to go back again. The Boys we've talked to, can't wait to listen to us another time.

Teenage girl – Pioneer Secondary School

When I saw the bags I thought it was meant to teach the boys boxing and other Self-Defense techniques. Little did I know that girls can also kick the bags. I was amazed by the way the IWD ladies hit the bags and it inspired me to emulate what they are doing. Now I know that truly my security is my responsibility.

Lucy - Lilivision Secondary School

Before IWD came to our school, I had this nagging problem of a boy who wanted me to be his girlfriend. He kept on pestering me despite the fact that I had told him in so many instances that I did not want anything to do with him. The more I resisted, the more he kept on trying. After I took the IWD classes, things became different since I learnt different techniques and skills with which to bring to rest the terrible situation. Three days after taking the class, the boy appeared and approached me just like he always do. this time he was in for a rude shock in that I made big scene and since there were so many people on the road he had no where to hide nor run. He begged me to stop embarrassing him but I kept on shouting until some women started to reprimand him. To me that was just level one-using verbal skill and had he continued, I would have tried one of the physical techniques that I learnt and love most i.e. knee to the groin. Right now I'm so sure of myself and I believe that indeed my body is the temple of God, I own it and no one should play around with me.

Sheila

We have become celebrities in all the communities we have stepped into. Many people can confide in us about very passionate issues without a trace of guilt whatsoever. In schools girls confide in us more they do with the teachers and it apparent due to the number of girls whop have sought our help on different reproductive health issues. We are truly the epitome of change I a society which is ravage with different social evils. God had a purpose for bringing Lee into our lives.

Phil Tosh

Today we had the opportunity to teach the first boys class at Friends Academy in Kariobangi for Secondary School boys. We had a total of 23 Boys and the issues they shared with us regarding their perception of women are astounding.

Can you believe it, two of them later shared with Alfred that they are willing to change their perception of women in the society.

Peter

The approach we give to the boy's class is amazing and two teachers from different secondary schools have shared with me in confidence that they are going to use the approach to get to the boys and unravel some of the issues that they hold dear to their hearts. Mr. Onjoro (Anointed Secondary School) and Mr. Anthony Apollo (Kenya Pam Secondary School) have stated their intention to learn the script we use in the boys class since they believe that it can help them in their work and the daily encounter with boys and young men in the community.

A lot of boys have shared with us the program is marvelous and that we should spread out to other parts of the country. We receive a lot of encouragement from the teachers, and students from the different schools that we have visited. They have always urged us to continue doing the good job. The level of openness and sharing of information with our team members particularly after the classes is amazing and we have been able to unravel so many mysteries harbored by our clients. As a matter of fact if we were to give testimonies of our clients, this website will be full with nothing else but testimonials..


	About Us Projects Videos Testimonials NEWS! Donate Contact Amelia Awuor I think it will be important to tell you that I was attacked together with one of my friends called Christine by thugs and thank God I managed to rescue her together with me. They were two men and it happened that they wanted to snatch the properties that we were carrying and immediately they got hold of me then I was like 'What tools - What target' believe it, it worked since I used the power on my hips to turn around and then using my elbow I happened to hit him on the vulnerable upper part of his body, and while he was undergoing the pain I got hold of his head and hit it using my knee, and because my friend was still struggling to get off the attacker I managed to hit his ribs and I got hold of Christine's hand leaving everything we had and ran away for our lives. I was so happy that I made it and I even shed tears for the courage that I had and the yell that drew people near. I thank God for your teachings they encourage me each and everyday of my life knowing that I am worth defending, a woman of power, a woman of noble purpose just like you. Right now in my school people especially ladies are so much interested in knowing how to use the ‘tools and targets' that they have, since they are always interested when they see me doing exercises everyday and when I get to tell them of how to defend themselves, some of them are victims of rape. I love you and you mean a lot to me. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING THERE FOR US. Rose MKWAK I was walking on my way home from work when suddenly a man held on to my hand. When I looked at him I recognized that I didn't know him. The first thing that came to my mind was what's free what's open. At that moment I also remembered one of the releases and I surprised the man by coming out of the grab and yelled at him as loud as I could. I really want to thank IWD for giving me the skills with which to defend myself. Sarah R. Finkelstein I wanted to contact you directly and tell you how inspired and impressed I have been by I'm Worth Defending. I am a law student at Wash U and here with three of my classmates. We started talking with Emily and instantly became intrigued by the organization. I've been in Ghana and Kenya for 5 weeks and spent last summer in South Africa, and IWD is by far the best community based organization I have come across. Not only are the services IWD provides the community novel and necessary, but the staff members are sincere and skilled at working with the community. Shelia and Emily are empowering self-defense instructors. Andrew, Peter, and Alfred know how to talk to young boys and get the message across - it was incredible to watch. Shelia took us to the Baby Daycare program last week and we had such a wonderful time with the children. It provides such a vital service to the community and we can't wait to go back. Mrs. Muthui – Deputy Head teacher Kariobangi Primary School When you first came to our school, I really did not know what to expect and thus had my doubts bearing in mind that you're so young. I thought I knew so much when it comes to handling teenagers. But after listening and seeing what you people are capable of doing, I realized that I need more training on counseling so that I can help these children. I convict myself for having done so many ills to the children by shouting to them about their situations while I should have helped them by talking to them in confidence. You MUST come back to our school no matter the workload that you be having. Please promise us that you'll come back! Alfred Makabira We've just arrived from one of our teen girls classes in Kibera and you can bet the response was as good as you'd expect. However, on our way back, somewhere around Eastleigh [along Juja road], we were caught up in a nasty police vs robbers car chase/ shoot- out that eventually ended up in a bloody carnage around Huruma flats. The whole saga was scary but, something deep down kept on telling me that IWD has a purpose and that no matter what the situation was, we would make it through and continue doing what we are meant to do i.e. ''Serving Humanity.'' Good shall always prevail over evil and indeed we made it. Phil Tosh On Monday, we had a training session with some fourteen commercial sex workers at a place called Kiamaiko which is adjacent to Huruma. You wouldn't believe the stories we heard from them particularly their experiences on the streets of Nairobi. When it came to the physicals, you can't imagine the rage and force with which they hit at the bags. We even had to repair the Everlast bag after that session. When it came to Full Force Drill they urged each other on by telling the one hitting to kill the burger and mentioning the name of a particular person at the moment. When we inquired later on during the closing remarks about the people they were mentioning, they told us that those were the names of the most notorious rapist within their area and apparently almost all of them had been raped by those particular people. Rape Survivors Anonymous is going to grow big since they promised to join our ladies for today's session thereafter they can form one within their own backyard. Tell you what, I always thought that I was a very strong person, but those ladies showed me that I really had a soft spot and that I could burst to the point of shedding tears. Flora – Adult woman Koch I encountered this rogue man who will not let go of my hand. I had doubts about what I had learnt from IWD and whether they really worked. So here God was presenting me with an opportunity to try the skills and find out for myself there effectiveness. I started by using the broken record when the man tried to lure me to go with him to his house. He did not listen and I believe it due to the fact that I was not assertive enough and thus it only served to make him come even more strongly to me. I thought of another verbal skill since I did not want to venture into physical yet. I then decide to make a scene and guess what, before I knew it the man was gone and I didn't even see which way he went. Now I can tell the world an d mainly the women that the skills truly works you only need to be assertive. Mama Nyash – Shosho from Koch Just show me the strongest of men and I'll show you how to bring him down. I was going to my farm on Tuesday morning when a certain crazy man decided that he had landed a golden opportunity to cheap “meat”. He started following me the moment he noticed that I had turned around a corner away from the public eyes. My instincts told me immediately that he had bad intentions. Upon that realization I became on guard and since I was now approaching my farm I thought he was going to use the opportunity to try and rape me there since I had nothing of value with me. When he inched closer I started calling names so that he would believe that I was not entirely alone. I went to the extent of telling them to bring with them the machetes and hoes since there was an intruder who wanted to harm me. To my dismay, the trick worked since the man turned away and fled as fast as his legs could carry him. My advice to the women and shoshos; do not ignore what you're being taught by these “children”. Emily After one of the classes in Njathaini Primary school, one of the boys was seen by the other boys trying to provoke a girl who had taken the Self-Defense class. He was telling the girl to try and use the techniques on her if she really believed tat she was tough. The other boys ran to him and told him to stop what he was doing and be a gentleman. They reprimanded him for not adhering to what he was taught in the boys class. On realizing his mistake he apologized to the girl and walked away with his head down. Phil Tosh Indeed like you pointed out the boys class is the class I really and surely would very much want to take part in. IT IS SO SO INTERESTING. The issues that are coming up particularly in RULE number FOUR - NO MEANS NO and RULE number FIVE are heart renting. The controversies, myths and misconceptions surrounding Masturbation in this community is shocking. However, I'm glad to report to you that we've managed to respond to every issue raised and we have become celebrities in this community. This is simply because we have touched the hearts of many people including children who have met us. In every place that we've been to, we are being requested to go back again. The Boys we've talked to, can't wait to listen to us another time. Teenage girl – Pioneer Secondary School When I saw the bags I thought it was meant to teach the boys boxing and other Self-Defense techniques. Little did I know that girls can also kick the bags. I was amazed by the way the IWD ladies hit the bags and it inspired me to emulate what they are doing. Now I know that truly my security is my responsibility. Lucy - Lilivision Secondary School Before IWD came to our school, I had this nagging problem of a boy who wanted me to be his girlfriend. He kept on pestering me despite the fact that I had told him in so many instances that I did not want anything to do with him. The more I resisted, the more he kept on trying. After I took the IWD classes, things became different since I learnt different techniques and skills with which to bring to rest the terrible situation. Three days after taking the class, the boy appeared and approached me just like he always do. this time he was in for a rude shock in that I made big scene and since there were so many people on the road he had no where to hide nor run. He begged me to stop embarrassing him but I kept on shouting until some women started to reprimand him. To me that was just level one-using verbal skill and had he continued, I would have tried one of the physical techniques that I learnt and love most i.e. knee to the groin. Right now I'm so sure of myself and I believe that indeed my body is the temple of God, I own it and no one should play around with me. Sheila We have become celebrities in all the communities we have stepped into. Many people can confide in us about very passionate issues without a trace of guilt whatsoever. In schools girls confide in us more they do with the teachers and it apparent due to the number of girls whop have sought our help on different reproductive health issues. We are truly the epitome of change I a society which is ravage with different social evils. God had a purpose for bringing Lee into our lives. Phil Tosh Today we had the opportunity to teach the first boys class at Friends Academy in Kariobangi for Secondary School boys. We had a total of 23 Boys and the issues they shared with us regarding their perception of women are astounding. Can you believe it, two of them later shared with Alfred that they are willing to change their perception of women in the society. Peter The approach we give to the boy's class is amazing and two teachers from different secondary schools have shared with me in confidence that they are going to use the approach to get to the boys and unravel some of the issues that they hold dear to their hearts. Mr. Onjoro (Anointed Secondary School) and Mr. Anthony Apollo (Kenya Pam Secondary School) have stated their intention to learn the script we use in the boys class since they believe that it can help them in their work and the daily encounter with boys and young men in the community. A lot of boys have shared with us the program is marvelous and that we should spread out to other parts of the country. We receive a lot of encouragement from the teachers, and students from the different schools that we have visited. They have always urged us to continue doing the good job. The level of openness and sharing of information with our team members particularly after the classes is amazing and we have been able to unravel so many mysteries harbored by our clients. As a matter of fact if we were to give testimonies of our clients, this website will be full with nothing else but testimonials..