A new national self-defense program aimed at teaching women how to take control of their safety was in Stamford Tuesday to share its message with the community.

Called Protect Our Daughters, the program is usually available through corporate sponsorships, but was open to members of the public Tuesday at the city's Palace Theatre. The founders say it's a simple, one-hour self-defense program for girls and women developed and taught by United States veterans.

Women Tuesday morning were taught situational awareness tips and six basic self-defense techniques.

The program's co-founder started Protect Our Daughters after a friend's child was stalked at her college and no longer felt safe.

Instructors say the core of the program is focused on changing women's mindsets so participants leave feeling confident and capable of defending themselves in a dangerous situation.

Protect Our Daughters recruits veterans to be trainers for the program as a way to help them reintegrate when they return home from deployment. In addition, proceeds raised at each event go toward veterans' organizations.