Street Smart: Empowering Girls for Active Travel
Street Smart is a free programme designed to give girls and young women the confidence and skills they need to navigate active travel safely and independently.
Covering walking, biking, and public transport, these practical sessions are tailored to real-world scenarios.
Recent studies highlight that many girls and young women face challenges when using active travel, particularly on public transport. Street Smart addresses these issues head-on, equipping participants with tools to feel safe, prepared, and in control.
Who is it for?
The program is designed for girls aged 10-14 years.
Participants learn essential skills such as reading bus timetables, confidently interacting with drivers and passengers, planning safe routes, and knowing when and where to seek help.
Sessions also include self-defense techniques and decision-making strategies to ensure participants feel secure and capable in any situation.
Why it matters
How it works
Pilot sessions in 2024 brought together students from Queenstown schools, delivered in partnership with Lightfoot, Shukokai Karate Queenstown, and Thrive with Abbey. Feedback from parents and students showed 100% satisfaction, with highlights including self-defense training and confidence-building exercises.
Participants explored practical topics like making complaints to ORC, understanding bus cameras for safety, managing situations like vaping, and choosing seats strategically. Activities even included shouting exercises to help the girls discover the strength of their voices!
The hands-on sessions were led by Sensei Pat and personal trainer Abbey Hill, who demonstrated self-defense moves and guided participants through practice.
Looking ahead
In 2025, Street Smart will run at various primary schools throughout the region. For more information or to register your interest, email [email protected]
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