Safe Spaces

A Home Base Free from Judgment

At the heart of Amandla's work is its Safer Spaces programme — described as one of its cornerstone initiatives. These physical centres, located across Philippi, Mitchells Plain, and Samora Machel, were created to give vulnerable young people a place to simply exist without fear of stigma or judgment. Research has consistently shown that young people feel unwelcome, or even intimidated, when they try to access formal health clinics. The stigma attached to HIV and sexual health in many communities actively keeps youth away from the services they need. Amandla's Safer Spaces address this by bringing services directly to young people in an environment that feels welcoming and relevant to their lives. The result has been remarkable: HIV testing rates among youth have climbed from just 10% to over 80%. But Safer Spaces are far more than health clinics. They offer after-school programmes in the arts, theatre, music, dance, and even DJ lessons. They provide one-on-one and group counselling, mentorship, family planning services, and LGBTQ support. Computers and WiFi are available for homework and research. These spaces have become, as Amandla puts it, places of hope, education, learning, expression, joy, and the sharing of ideas — a home base free from the violence and pressures of the streets outside.