A new nonprofit called Rise Up Youth, Inc. aims to provide opportunities for children to learn self-defense, led by Raju, the Founder and President of the organization.
How we got here
Raju said that her past led her to begin Rise Up Youth this year.
“Self-defense is something that is deeply personal to me,” she said. “It kind of gave me a voice where I didn’t really have one.”
Raju said she grew up dealing with abuse and neglect, and learning proper self-defense helped overcome it.
“It taught me about confidence, it taught me about self-love, and it taught me about self-esteem,” she said.
What they offer
Raju said that the nonprofit provides funding for children to attend self-defense classes and educational programs.
“We provide funds for underserved kids to attend self-defense classes,” Raju said.
Rise Up Youth will serve the entirety of Bexar County, San Antonio and surrounding areas, according to Raju.
In the future, she said she hopes they can expand and serve people around the country who need it.
- Opened in March
- Serving Bexar and surrounding counties
- Instagram: riseupyouth2025
