Our services are aimed at girls, women, lesbian, inter-, non-binary, trans and agender people. We work according to the concept of feminist self-assertion and self-defense.

Feminist self-assertion and self-defense will make you braver and stronger so that you can better assert and defend yourself in everyday life. The aim is to have more self-confidence, set clear boundaries and learn to defend yourself both physically and mentally against assaults.

Why is this necessary?

Because girls, women, lesbians, inter-, non-binary, trans and agender people experience boundary violations every day.
Here are a few examples:
* the boss who never lets you finish speaking
* Insults from your ex-partner
* someone grabbing your bottom at a party
* an unknown person wants to arrange a date with you over the internet
* the aunt who always uses the wrong pronoun and the wrong name for you
* Rape by a known, related or unknown person
* Roommates or caregivers who simply come into your room
* Unknown people who want to push your wheelchair somewhere
* new acquaintances who ask you where you actually come from
* when someone gets way too close to you on the suburban train
* groups of men who whistle at you
* being stared at by strangers on the street
* the colleague or teacher who just grabs your hair
* classmates telling you that your body is not ok like that
* when you say “no” but your friends keep ignoring it

Women and queer people around the world have long been fighting for equal rights for all. They have taken and continue to take to the streets for everyone to be able to determine their own lives. They have started to talk about the violence and oppression they experience in their everyday lives. They sought and found ways to defend themselves against it.
In Canada, for example, a concept for feminist self-assertion and self-defense called Wendo was developed in 1972. It also came to Germany and has been taught here ever since. Many girls, women and queer people have learned strategies to assert themselves.

Some of our trainers at Sidekick have learned Wendo and use techniques and exercises from it. However, our courses also incorporate methods from feminist girls’ work, theater and experiential education. Various physical self-defense techniques and everyday martial arts are also part of the training.

We are constantly developing our concepts and looking at what girls, women, inter-, non-binary, trans and agender people need today to feel safer. We think about this when planning courses:
How does violence occur? Who experiences violence? What new knowledge is there about violence?
How can I prevent violence? Prevention means: violence should not happen in the first place. How can I put an end to violence?

We all know the feeling of not being able to defend ourselves, feeling helpless or that our boundaries have not been respected by others. In the course, you can share your experiences with others (in pairs or in a group). You will soon realize that you are not alone in this.
In order to be able to pay attention to your boundaries in everyday life, you will learn to feel what you want and what you don’t want through various exercises. These exercises are about becoming aware of your body.
How does it feel,
…when someone gets too close to you?
…when you make yourself big?
…when you shout at someone?

You will get to know different ways of setting boundaries. With a clear “no”, through the use of physical techniques or through eye contact and body language.
You will have the opportunity to try out the different strategies in role plays.
You decide for yourself which type suits you best!
The course also teaches you how to physically defend your boundaries.
All exercises are voluntary and there is always the opportunity to rest. Because you are the focus of the course with your limits and needs.

To help you recover from stressful experiences in everyday life, we do relaxation exercises together and talk about how we can do something good for ourselves.

Contact points for children & young people

JUKON (youth advice center for 14-27 year olds)
https://www.jugendhaus-leipzig.de/beratung
https://www.instagram.com/jukon_leipzig/

Nummer gegen Kummer:
Mon-Sat 2pm-8pm
Tel. 116 111
Chat: https://www.nummergegenkummer.de/
https://www.instagram.com/nummergegenkummer_e.v/

Frauen für Frauen e.V. (association in Leipzig)
for domestic violence and stalking:
0341/30610803
mail:
https://www.fff-leipzig.de/haeusliche-gewalt/kis-beratungsstelle/kinder-und-jugendliche/
for sexualized violence:
0341/3911199
(online counselling also available)
https://www.fff-leipzig.de/sexualisierte-gewalt/fub-fach-beratungsstelle-bei-sexualisierter-gewalt/kinder-und-jugendberatung/

Leipzig Child Protection Center
Tel. 0341/9602837
https://www.kinderschutz-leipzig.de/start.html

RosaLinde e.V. (association for queer people)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosalinde_leipzig
Website: https://www.rosalinde-leipzig.de/

Contact points for adults

Help hotline against violence against women 08000116116
– telephone advice (24/7)
– online advice via instant chat and email

Frauen für Frauen e.V. https://www.fff-leipzig.de/
– Women’s helpline (24/7 hotline) 0341-4798179
– Specialist and advice centre for sexualized violence 0341-3911199
– Coordination and intervention centre against domestic violence and stalking KIS

Bellis e.V. https://bellis-leipzig.de/
– immediate medical assistance after rape (incl. confidential forensics)
– immediate medical assistance after domestic violence (incl. confidential forensics)
– specialist counselling centre against sexualized violence, especially for queer victims in
the city and for all groups of people in the districts of Leipzig Land and
NordsachsenOpferhilfe Sachsen e.V. https://www.opferhilfe-sachsen.de/
– counselling & online counselling for victims and witnesses of crimes

RosaLinde Leipzig e.V. https://www.rosalinde-leipzig.de/de/
– psychosocial counseling for LGBTIQA* on issues relating to sexual orientation,
gender identities and queer lifestyles

Women’s shelters
You can seek protection in a women’s shelter if you no longer feel
safe at home. The addresses of these shelters are secret. As a rule, contact is made at
via the permanent immediate reception. The target group includes the entire
FLINTA* group of people.
– Permanent immediate reception of women* and child protection facilities in the
Leipzig region 0341-55010420
– Women’s and children’s shelter www.frauenhaus-le.de 0341-2324277
– 1st autonomous women’s shelter www.frauenhaus-leipzig.de 0341-4798179
– 4th women’s shelter Leipzig 0341-5501040
– S.H.E. – Shelter for refugee women www.she-leipzig.de 0341-44238229

Self-help groups
There are a number of groups in Leipzig where those affected regularly discuss specific
topics. You can find a list for the city of Leipzig here:
https://www.leipzig.de/jugend-familie-und-soziales/gesundheit/selbsthilfe/
self-help-groups-and-associations
The TIAM association (Trans-Inter-Aktv in Mitteldeutschland) has a separate list of self-help groups for trans, inter and non-binary people in Saxony
on its homepage
: https://www.trans-inter-aktiv.org/tiam/unsere-angebote/liste-von-
self-help-groups/