A convent of Italian nuns has set up a course of self-defense for women fearing gender attacks.
The Maria Ausiliatrice Institute initiated the month-long course in collaboration with the local Uchi Oroshi Judo Sports Association.
It was supported by the Bibbiano town council and coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov. 25.
“We always have a social dimension and a focus on the most vulnerable. That’s why we wanted to show our sensitivity to women,” the nuns said in a statement.
The program, which runs every Wednesday in November, combines self-defense techniques with lessons on body awareness, self-esteem, and crisis management.
“We want to teach self-confidence and safety through movement and relationships, which are forms of prevention and growth,” the nuns added.
Sister Paola Della Ciana, the institute’s director and a psychotherapist specializing in health and socio-emotional education, leads the initiative.
Founded in 1920, the Maria Ausiliatrice Institute is a Catholic school with 370 students and offers classes from nursery to middle school, as well as vocational and music programs.
