Empowering SEGA Girls: Self-Defense Classes with Bryan Ware and Claudia Furcola Stemler

Bryan (in the top right) is pictured with Claudia (in the middle) with some girls from SEGA.

Bryan Ware, an actuary within the US property/casualty insurance industry, resides in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, with his wife, Ginger, and their two adult children. Yet, Bryan's impact stretches far beyond his profession. His commitment to improving the lives of women and girls, particularly in East Africa, sets him apart.

Claudia Furcola Stemler is a birth, postpartum, and bereavement doula from Philadelphia and a single mother of three adult sons. Since 2018, Claudia has supported three children in Kenya. She has actively engaged in the Ngong community, collaborating with local social workers, assisting schools, and building relationships with educators, parents, and children. As an SA survivor, she aims to help give women and girls the tools they need to protect themselves. She hopes to eventually create a program for boys and young men to teach them and help proactively break this cycle and culture.

Bryan's journey gained profound significance during a 2014 trip to Africa, where he witnessed the peril women and girls face in the region. Motivated to effect change, Bryan, alongside his wife and Claudia, embarked on a mission to provide sexual assault prevention self-defense classes to at-risk communities.

Focusing primarily on East Africa since 2020, Bryan and Claudia’s classes have empowered over 3,500 girls and women. Their passion serves as a catalyst for social change, aiming to empower and protect those at greatest risk.

Recently, Bryan and Claudia brought their self-defense classes to SEGA, where they spent nine nights on campus in the visitor’s house, where they could immerse themselves in the SEGA community, from walking the campus grounds to witnessing the joyous moments of the students dancing.

One important part of the self-defense curriculum is addressing the issue of "freezing" during a sexual assault—a common response that often leaves victims feeling powerless. Bryan and Claudia empower women and girls to break free from this instinctual response and take control of their safety by imparting simple yet effective techniques.

As Bryan and Claudia’s classes concluded, their impact resonated deeply among students and staff alike. Their dedication inspires others, fostering leadership and sustainability long after their departure.

Thank you to Bryan and Claudia for providing these important sexual assault prevention self-defense classes to the SEGA community while ensuring each girl felt empowered and included, regardless of their circumstances.