In a perfect world home is a safe place. Children do not fear their parent will harm them or worry their mother will be battered. Yet, sadly, domestic violence is a tragic reality for many of the girls who go to Wings School. The national rate of reported domestic violence in India is 43% (North American rate is 21%). India’s Ministry of Women and Children state the actual rate is closer to 70%. Studies have identified several risk factors for Indian women that predispose them to being a victim of domestic violence. The list includes witnessing violence as a child, household poverty, substance abuse, male dominance, honor or chastity notions, and dowry norms. When I look at that list, nearly every single factor applies to the girls at Wings School. Statistically, the girls at Wings are at extremely high risk to be victims of domestic violence.

One girl who fits this profile is 11 year old Bindia. The family is extremely poor. Bindia lives with her mother, father, and brother in a one-room hovel. Her father is alcoholic and has trouble keeping a job so he resorts to stealing and other illegal occupations. He used to abuse his wife and children mercilessly. Wings administrators confronted him after Bindia came to school with bruises. After that, Bindia reported that it was more peaceful at home. She hasn’t come to school with bruises again. Bindia is still in a high-risk situation. Her father sends her out at night to buy alcohol and cigarettes and she is afraid to refuse. Once you have been beaten you know it can happen again so Bindia doesn’t cross her father. Streets are not well lit and are filled with young, inebriated men in the evenings. Fortunately for Bindia, her Tae Kwon Do training has given her physical confidence that makes her less likely to be a victim.

We can’t eliminate all the risks for the girls at Wings. Someday women and girls will have equal rights and the world will be safer. Until that day arrives, we can ensure that girls who are at the highest risk for being abused learn their rights and have critical self-defense skills. You can help protect and empower the girls at Wings by donating to KAP’s Kick Like a Girl Fundraising Campaign. There are 11 Wings girls poised to compete at India’s National Tae Kwon Do Championship December 23^rd.  Show them your support! Go Team Wings!

Source material from World Bank publication “Violence Against Women and Girls: Lessons form South Asia” by Jennifer Solotaroff and Rohini Prabha Pande., September 2014.