Boxgirls began in 2001 to offer self-defense training to young girls in Berlin’s inner city neighborhoods of Kreuzberg and Neukölln. Over time, the program has developed into a community organization that offer a safe space for women and girls in Berlin to train, learn, and grow.
In 2005, Boxgirls was selected as a model project by the United Nations International Year of Sports and Physical Education. The success of the program soon led to an international effort resulting in the creation of a partnership between Boxgirls and local activists in Kenya. Together, we created Boxgirls Kenya which serves underprivileged girls and women living in some of Nairobi’s toughest neighborhoods.
Boxgirls South Africa began in 2009 when we were invited to work with primary schools in the township of Khayelitsha in Cape Town, South Africa. Since then, we have expanded our work from operating in 19 primary schools to having 20 active partnerships entering into 2018.
Our leaders in Germany have supported the organisational development of Boxgirls South Africa, Germany, and Kenya from the beginning up until today through trainings, consultancy, and a curriculum developed with input from the South African team.
Boxgirls International facilitated workshops at the UNOSDP youth leadership camps prior and is continuing to advocate for the empowerment of women and girls with the expansion of Boxgirls International worldwide.
