A Safe Space: A Foolproof GSGC Fundamental

“A safe space means a place where you feel comfortable, a place where we (invite) our girls to fully express themselves and become the best version of themselves and be able to say their experiences without feeling judged.”

~ Mentor Mercy Sibanda, Girls Time Club, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

“Since our boys moved from a borrowed school classroom to our newly constructed Sisonke safe space, they have changed.” ~ Mentor Prosper Siphambili, Sisonke Boys Club, Monde Village, Zimbabwe

The Concept

Safe space. A complex concept. On the one hand, it can refer to physical space. On the other, to one person’s holding space for, accepting and respecting another. GSGC-sponsored clubs combine the two. For meetings, they create a secure environment free from discrimination, harassment or other mental, physical or emotional harm. In these safe spaces, young people share, learn, question and create. In these spaces, they are welcomed by their Mentors as individuals and affirmed by GSGC’s motto: I see you. I hear you. I believe in you.

Confidentiality is essential, Mentors agreed in their safe space code of conduct in their virtual Resource Centre. But even more important is respect, which includes interacting with empathy and sensitivity to what both girls and boys face. At the beginning of each year, club members discuss and agree to the basics of the club environment, such as listening without interrupting.

“Working together with Nyika and me, the boys have begun to realize who they are as individuals, to think about their futures, to see Mentors as role models, and finally, to begin to view girls and women in a more positive light,” said Mentor Prosper Siphambili of Sisonke Boys Club in Monde Village, Zimbabwe.

Boys have disclosed, he said, that they are being bullied because they will not bully girls.

Such safety and support can be lifesaving. One teen, whose daily challenges and failing schoolwork nearly pushed her to suicide, put her trust in a Mentor. The Mentor listened and found her psychological help, and the girl began to thrive. She stood taller, came to believe in herself, and passed all her exams. She moved from despair to scholarship.

Consistency is key. Mentors meet their GSGC-sponsored club members at least weekly. Activities vary depending on the interests, skills and knowledge of individual Mentors. But the offerings target parallel goals: encourage academic excellence; promote gender equality; reduce poverty and abuse; build life skills; develop self-esteem; provide a support network; give back; and dignity for all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UemkWRtY2Kg

The Challenges

Securing an ideal safe space poses significant challenges. Can club members meet as a group at a regularly scheduled time? Is the space affordable? Can it accommodate the club’s principal activities? Can it be a setting for achieving the outcomes a club wishes to see? Can it be easily equipped? Is it secure from break-ins or prying eyes? Can it be used in an emergency?

No two clubs have answered these questions the same way. For many, their earliest safe spaces were classrooms offered by local schools. While appreciated, classrooms posed problems such as noise in surrounding rooms or a lack of flexibility for activities. For months at the pandemic’s height, clubs were shut out of classrooms when schools were closed. For a variety of reasons, some clubs found space outside of schools.

Different Models

In anticipation of finding an ideal space, Girls Time Mentors Procedure Chikosi and Mercy Sibanda and their club members drew up a long list of desired elements. The space had to be welcoming. It required: a bathroom for personal and menstrual hygiene; Internet connectivity for researching school projects and career options; a room large enough to accommodate a long table for sitting around; a stove and oven for baking sessions and catering needs; a library corner for sitting quietly and reading; a sewing corner to develop skills; and walls space to feature informational banners, charts of club rules, photos, and club members’ drawings.

Happily, Girls Time has found, equipped and decorated its new space. It is, said Mentor Mercy, “a place where girls can innovate with others and interact and become better people.”

A few miles away in a rural area, Sisonke Boys Club Mentors Nyika Muyambo and Prosper Siphambili hired workers to build a safe space that was a bridge between tradition and change, helping secure the community’s respect. The structure resembled a “council” building, where local boys traditionally were taught to be “real men.” The physical space honored the past, but the lessons inside emphasized evolving social norms and girl empowerment. Club members painted the structure, gaining a feeling of ownership and belonging.

Farther out from Victoria Falls, one club has turned its surroundings into a safe space since attendance has outpaced room under the headman’s open thatched shelter. Mentors Sfe Sebata and Shorai Matambanadzo’s RiseNShine clubs focus on art, and their main activities now take place under a massive banyan tree.

In a rural area of Zambia, Mentor Pestrida Muleya uses a classroom for Isepe Club meetings and her girls’ homes for one-on-one discussions. To avoid the pandemic’s viruses, she can also meet individually with girls in a quiet open space dotted with benches. Mentor Pestrida and the girls are now making plans to build a freestanding safe space of their own.

As more clubs create nurturing spaces for their discussions and activities, Mentors will share the pros and cons of what they’ve learned with other GSGC Mentors. Safe spaces in rural areas will differ from those in urban areas, but all will provide a confidential, emotionally supportive environment to empower girls and educate boys, opening them to new ideas, new ways and new opportunities. Then they can build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.