[by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51VOA.COM [00:00.28]Schoolgirls in Malawi are learning to defend themselves against sexual abuse. [00:09.48]This is the goal of a Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Kenya. [00:20.31]The group is not offering martial arts classes to the schoolgirls. [00:26.68]But it is teaching the young women what to do if someone tries to attack them. [00:34.46]The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has financed the program [00:40.12]since a report about sexual assault in Malawi was released last year. [00:46.92]The report found that one in every five girls under the age of 18 in Malawi has been sexually assaulted. [00:58.09]Loveness Thole is with Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa. [01:04.26]She says the class teaches girls several different methods of self-defense. [01:11.92]"The curriculum involves both verbal and physical skills. [01:15.83]With the physical skills, it's used only if it is the last and best option. [01:20.29]So, meaning to say, we use mainly the verbal skills, [01:24.26]which is how to use their voices to end assaults." [01:27.48]The schoolgirls learn to shout for help or act like they see someone coming to trick their attacker. [01:36.48]The girls also learn ways to disable an attacker so they can run away. [01:44.16]The NGO has been teaching these classes for two hours every week in seven districts around Malawi. [01:54.40]Project coordinator Simang'aliso Domoya says the group hopes to bring change to the country. [02:04.52]"At the end of the year, we would like to reduce the incidences of rape. [02:09.65]We would also like to promote education by reducing early marriages, school drop-outs and also early pregnancies." [02:16.96]At least 25,000 girls have been involved in the program. [02:24.15]Teacher Rebecca Msalanyama says before, girls were not reporting sexual attacks. [02:33.74]But now some are feeling empowered to report incidents to teachers and parents. [02:41.84]One girl, named Shang Chituzu, said she has already had to use her skills. [02:51.28]"My uncle ordered me to lie on his bed," she said. [02:56.84]"When I asked him why, he started touching my body. [03:02.20]I told him to stop and that I [would] report him to the police or my mother if he [continued]. [03:10.56]After hearing this, he ordered me out of his room." [03:15.62]The project is also teaching boys that they should respect girls. [03:21.68]It also shows them how to become involved if they see a girl being assaulted. [03:29.19]Project organizers want to extend the self-defense program to students across Malawi. [03:38.14]They hope there will be enough money to offer it nationwide. [03:43.02]I'm Pete Musto.