 Kidpower has coined a new term to describe the skills taught in its programs, "People Safety," defined as people being emotionally and physically safe, both with themselves and others.Kidpower was founded by Irene van der Zande in 1989, spurred by an incident where she defended herself and a group of young children from a man threatening to kidnap one of the children.She stood between the man and the children, and he ran away after she yelled at him to gain the attention of others at the scene, asking them to join her in protecting the children.