Zonta Club of Dhaka II inaugurates self defense training for girls

In response to the growing need for personal safety and empowerment, the Zonta Club of Dhaka II, Bangladesh, has launched a self-defense training program in Joydevpur, offering taekwondo classes to girls and young women.

The initiative aims to equip participants with essential self-defense skills while fostering self-confidence, resilience and self-esteem—qualities that can be life-changing in a country where gender-based violence remains a serious concern.

By breaking barriers and stereotypes, the increasing presence of women in martial arts is reshaping traditionally male-dominated spaces into more inclusive and empowering environments.

The club’s taekwondo program reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to building a safer, more equitable society. For many young women in Bangladesh, where threats to safety are a daily reality, the opportunity to develop these life-saving skills is both urgent and transformative.