By KATH GANNAWAY
A HEALESVILLE father and daughter martial arts team are reaching out through crowd funding to finance a program designed especially for schools.
The Lion Tamers Program is based on the teaching and philosophies of FreeForm Martial Arts, founded by Stephen Sonsie over 40 years ago.
Daughter, and Lion Tamers Program Manager, Nicole Kirby, followed in her father’s footsteps teaching martial arts and fitness to schools and corporate and sporting bodies in Australia and overseas.
The third member of the team is qualified teacher, Rachel Arnold who is working on ensuring the program fits the school curriculum.
Ms Kirby said the need for a program that fostered an understanding in each child of their own value and worth was based on their work with children over the years.
Gruyere Primary School is trialling the program which is designed to support teachers to independently present the program in the classroom.
Ms Kirby said the program aims to foster strength in students to be able to stand up, speak up and step forward to engage the world with confidence.
“It is our contention that the more balanced children are mentally and physically, the better position they are in to make good choices,” she said.
Gruyere Primary School principal, Michelle Upton, said they started trialing the Lion Tamers Program after engaging FreeForm to do a martial arts program at the school.
“The level of engagement and understanding they have about the children and their needs, and how to get the best out of them is amazing,” Ms Upton said.
Gruyere teacher, Emma Braham, said the program was an engaging way for the children to learn about physical education, values and teamwork.
Eight schools in the Yarra Valley have signed up to the trail program with the Lion Tamers team donating the program, equipment and time to train the teachers and children.
Having successfully completed a number of trials in schools, they now want to make it more widely available, with an aim of 16 schools by the end of the year.
“We are now reaching out to the community through a crowd-funding campaign to seek assistance in funding the completion of the Lion Tamers Program.”
The first month of the campaign through GoFundMe has raised $3,675 of the $50,000 goal, and the aim is to have the program funded and delivered by the end of the year.
For more information on the Lion Tamers Program, or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/schoolrevolution .
