Under the ongoing Sohochori Project, Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre continues to prioritise the physical and emotional empowerment of adolescent girls through regular self-defence training sessions. On 20th June 2025, one such session was successfully conducted at Sonagachi, reaffirming the project’s commitment to ensuring a safe and empowered environment for girls living in vulnerable and high-risk areas.

These classes are more than just physical drills — they are a space of confidence-building, awareness, and resilience. The training is designed to equip the girls with practical techniques to defend themselves, recognise danger, and respond effectively in times of distress. It also fosters a strong sense of discipline, self-belief, and group solidarity.

The Sonagachi sessions have become a powerful tool for breaking the silence around safety concerns and enabling open dialogue about gender-based violence, harassment, and exploitation. With each class, the girls grow stronger — not just in technique, but in mind-set. The initiative also receives strong support from community members and project staff, who witness the growing confidence in the participating adolescents.

The continued efforts of the Sohochori Project reflect KMWSC’s core belief: that every girl deserves to feel safe, respected, and empowered — no matter where she lives.

“When girls learn to defend themselves, they also learn to believe in themselves.”

***