Incidents of violence against women are sadly growing. In Australia this year alone, horrendous statistics show us that more than one woman has been killed every week through domestic violence.
This is what makes the work of the KYUP! Project even more important, and it’s what drives the passion of its founder, Mel Thomas. Created to break the cycle of family and domestic violence at its grassroots, the initiative is fast becoming Australia’s premier violence and prevention empowerment program for teens.
Violence is not only something Mel teaches about, she’s lived it. When Helping Hands joined Mel at a recent Mother and Daughter Empowerment Workshop on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, she began the session by sharing her own experience of violence; having been unexpectedly king hit from behind while waiting to cross the road.
Mel now uses her experience to teach attendees at KYUP!’s workshops that violence can come to anyone. Having the skills to recognise it, prevent it and defend against it are invaluable.
“We work with women and children in crisis, and we help them overcome those really critical triggers that hold them back in so many areas of their lives. We go where we’re needed to give a whole community the language and skills to protect themselves and each other,” Mel says.
KYUP! Project is currently in the process of bringing on fifty new female black-belt martial artists to expand the reach of the project and extend the important message of self-worth and violence prevention skills among their workshop participants.
“The reason we put such an emphasis on self-esteem is because - if you don’t know what makes you worth protecting, you won’t stand up for yourself and you won’t stand up for others … We’ve selected a whole heap of really impactful and useful techniques that any girl can do, no matter her size, or her skill, or her fitness level.”
Councillor Cindy Bingham, from Northern Beaches Council, knows KYUP! is a project worth getting behind.
There’s a lot of domestic violence going on,’ Cindy says, “so to give (girls) those extra skills, that extra power, so they know exactly what they can do in those situations, I think, is just priceless.”
So far, more than 10,000 women and girls have benefited from the KYUP! Project’s invaluable workshops and Mel hopes to see this number steadily grow for the sake of all who deserve a safe future.
For participant, Claire, she knows it's the safety of her daughter, Gemma, that is at stake.
“I’ve looked at these (workshops) for a couple of years, and now that Gemma’s 13, it’s just a really great and important skill for them to learn as kids. It’s something that we can do together, and bond us, and help both of us learn the skills.”
What is the future of the KYUP! Project?
If Mel’s infectious enthusiasm is anything to go by, the project and its outcomes can only go from strength to strength, as will those who attend.
“The future of KYUP! is this … We have an army of black-belt female all-empowering instructors all across the nation doing self-worth and self-defence programs in schools, in community groups – we’re doing it in shelters, we’re doing it with universities, and everybody is going to have KYUP! power.”
See the KYUP! PROJECT story and the full catalogue of Helping Hands documentaries at helpinghands.tv. Catch up on full episodes of Helping Hands on 9NOW.
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* The Helping Hands producers are available for interview on radio, TV and online to discuss this topic. Get in touch at helpinghands.tv/contact/
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