Empowerment in Action: Building Confidence Through Self-Defense at Gateway

This month at Gateway, we put empowerment into practice. In response to growing concerns about the safety of young women in Kolkata — especially with rising reports of harassment in public spaces — our community team knew it was time to act.

Soma and Jeet, two of our incredible leaders, stepped up to organize a self-defense workshop that would equip participants with practical skills to protect themselves. With the help of trained experts, young women and girls from our community gathered to learn techniques that could make a real difference in navigating threatening situations.

But true to Joyya’s spirit, while the topic was serious, the workshop was anything but heavy.
Laughter rang through the room between drills and demonstrations. Confidence grew with every new skill mastered. What started as uncertainty quickly transformed into an atmosphere full of energy, support, and pride.

Through hands-on training, participants learned simple but effective techniques — from identifying unsafe situations early to using everyday objects for defense. They also practiced stance, voice projection, and self-confidence exercises, crucial tools for both mental and physical resilience.

Everyone left not just with new skills, but with a new sense of power: the ability to move through their city with more strength, assurance, and solidarity.

At Joyya, we believe that true community transformation starts when people feel safe, valued, and equipped. This self-defense workshop was a vivid reminder of what empowerment looks like in action — practical, spirited, and deeply rooted in dignity.

And this is only the beginning. As Kolkata’s communities face complex challenges, we remain committed to standing alongside them — bringing hope, skill, and opportunity wherever it’s needed.