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Beyond the fight: How EmpowerVan is Redefining Self-Defense for Displaced Women

Self-defense is not just about dropkicks and fight stances in response to aggression. While these skills are valuable, EmpowerVan’s mission goes beyond physical techniques that equip women beyond physical and preventive strategies. Often, threatening situations unfold quietly before they escalate, and it is important to recognize the early signs of potential threats, allowing for early intervention and prevention rather than reactive measures. Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) is about more than just physical techniques — it begins with strengthening inner awareness. ESD equips individuals with practical strategies to prevent, respond to, and resist violence in a way that is empowering rather than fear based. This means learning to recognize subtle cues like body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions to name a few. It’s about honing that instinct, sharpening your perception, and training your awareness like a muscle—one that reacts faster and more intuitively with each use. It’s about learning when to say no—and sometimes, how to say it. 


It’s about recognizing discomfort in all of its forms, from an unwelcome touch—whether on a shoulder, a leg, or anywhere- to catcalling, to lingering stares that carry unspoken intent. Self-defense isn’t just about reacting; it’s about knowing you have the right to remove yourself, to get up and walk away. And while that is often easier said than done, it starts with strengthening your awareness of personal boundaries and understanding that you don’t need permission to uphold them. This is where EmpowerVan comes in---a NGO dedicated to empowering displaced women through free empowerment self-defence classes. 


The term “displaced” carries an often overlooked significance, I find it a strange and weighty concept that this is the word we use to describe entire grounds of people who have lost their homes, their sense of security, and with that, a profound sense of personal identity. It reduces an unimaginable human experience to a single term, as if being displaced is a condition rather a deeply personal reality filled with uncertainty and a resilience that is not easy to comprehend.


Yet, behind this word are individuals—women, men, and children—navigating unfamiliar lands, cultures and systems, trying to find stability in a limbo that makes true settlement difficult. Women in refugee camps face countless challenges that are rarely spoken about—including but not limited to period poverty, vulnerability to violence, and unsafe living conditions. Often, they are left to fend for themselves, navigating an environment that offers little protection or support. This is why EmpowerVan’s work is essential. By enhancing personal safety, promoting autonomy, and fostering a supportive network, Empowervan helps bridge the critical gaps in protection and support for women in refugee camps.


Our Self Defense Instructor Claude is showing something to her students, who are attentively listening.
Empowerment Self Defense Seminar at Yoga sport with Refugees Gym, for the women living in the Lesvos Closed Access Control Center (Camp).

It offers them the tools to reclaim their vulnerability and turn it into empowerment— transforming uncertainty into strength and giving them a sense of control over the challenging circumstances they face. EmpowerVan has just begun its journey in Greece, which is a critical entry point for people fleeing conflict and instability in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2024, Greece experienced a significant increase in migrant arrivals – as of December 1, 2024, 57.363 refugees and asylum seekers arrived in Greece, marking a 33% increase compared to December 2023. The majority of these men and women come from Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Palestine, and according to recent statistics, men accounted for 56% of arrivals, women for 16%, and children for 28%. Women are disproportionately affected in refugee camps. Living in male-dominated spaces, they face significantly higher risks of sexual exploitation, assault, and both emotional and physical abuse.


The lack of adequate protection, privacy, and resources in these camps further exacerbates their vulnerability, leaving them with limited avenues for safety and support. Amnesty International has highlighted that overcrowded and under-resourced refugee camps often lack adequate protection measures, leaving women particularly vulnerable to these dangers. Recognising these urgent challenges, EmpowerVan has launched its mission in Greece to provide real solutions. While we understand the gravity of the situation and acknowledge that we alone cannot change the entire system, we believe that equipping women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to reclaim their agency and sense of security in such dire circumstances is a vital step forward. 

Written by Lauren Wilson


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