✨ What is Queer Feminist Self-Defense ? ✨
Our workshops vary depending on the facilitators, as their facilitation style, preferences, and background influence the structure and content of the workshop. All our trainers follow the feminist self-defense tradition (like Wen Do) and focus on a somatic approach, combining both verbal, physical and psychological self-defense techniques.
In this workshop we will support you to :
* build self-confidence and a sense of security
* develop body and emotional awareness
* cultivate stress management and resilience strategies
* learn psychological, verbal and physical self-defence techniques
✨ Who is this workshop for ? ✨
This workshop is for everyone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and more (LGBTQIA+), as well as straight cis-women who are allies to the lgbtqia+ community.
We want to create a space where people who face oppression from the cis-hetero-patriarchy can come together to share their experiences and ways of dealing with these common types of violence. A place for support and solidarity, where everyone can connect and find new ways to cope with these challenges.
We don’t believe in “safe spaces” and prefer the concept of accountability. We are aware that situations of violence can also occur within queer feminist spaces. Our intention is to create a space where we can collectively express solidarity, respect, understanding, and kindness, while also having the opportunity to express what’s not working, so we can address and resolve tensions in a constructive way.
✨ What language ? ✨
The workshop will be facilitated in English.
✨ When ? ✨
Monday, October 13, from 6 PM to 9 PM (doors open from 5:30 PM).
✨ Where ? ✨
At Grands Carmes
Rue des Grands Carmes 20-22
1000 Bruxelles
✨ Accessibility ? ✨
The venue is not wheelchair accessible, there are some stairs to enter the main room and stairs to go to the toilet.
A quiet space is available for isolation.
Noise-canceling headphones available.
Wide chairs without armrests for larger-bodied people.
Transport accessibility : 450 m from the Anneessens stop (trams 3, 4, buses 33 and 48), 450 m from the Bourse stop (trams 3 and 4, buses 33, 46, 48, 89, and 95). No parking available. Bike parking available.
We alternate seated and standing exercises, but you are welcome to stay seated, stand up, or leave the room at any time.
This workshop is open to everyone, regardless of physical condition. However, we want to point out that the venue and the workshop content are unfortunately not fully accessible for people with reduced mobility.
For any specific needs, please contact us : autodefense@feros.be or leave us a voice message via DM (Messenger or Instagram).
✨ How much does it cost ? ✨
We strive to offer our trainings to those who need them, regardless of their financial capacity. As a young collective we don’t have any ongoing sources of funding and are largely dependent on participant donations to enable us to organise our activities.
Money should not be an obstacle to participating in this training.
The real cost is 30 euros per person. We encourage those who are able to give more in order to allow those who cannot to participate. We encourage white, able-bodied participants with higher education or other significant privileges in particular to contribute more than the real cost of the training (up to 60€).
We will send you our bank information after your participation in the workshop. If you want to be able to donate anonymously, please contact us at : autodefense@feros.be
✨ How to register ? ✨
Through this form : keep scrolling down.
This workshop is for 16 people.
If you have any questions, contact us at : autodefense@feros.be or leave us a voice message via DM (Messenger or Instagram).
✨ Facilitators ✨
The training will be facilitated by Annelies (she/her) and Robin (he/they). Both facilitators are white and hold Belgian passports. They bring diverse lived experiences across gender and sexuality, disability, (mental) health, class, education, parenting and housing.
✨ What is Feros ? ✨
Feros is a Belgian collective of facilitators organising workshops and activities around collective care, inclusivity and queer feminist self-defence. In this way we support individuals, groups, collectives and organisations that work towards social and ecological justice.
✨ What is Grands Carmes ? ✨
Grands Carmes is a project led by a collective of LGBTQIA+ associations in Brussels, including Ex Aequo, Genres Pluriels, Tels Quels, and RainbowHouse, aimed at temporarily occupying a 1800 m² space in the Saint-Jacques district, in collaboration with the Régie Foncière of the City of Brussels.