Soul City Institute and Safe-Hub: Creating Safe Spaces Where Young People Can Thrive

This belief is at the heart of the Soul City Institute for Social Justice’s work and is reflected in its partnership with Safe-Hub Khayelitsha, located in Site B. The partnership brings together a shared commitment to youth development, wellbeing, participation and the creation of communities where young people can thrive.

Creating spaces where young people belong

Established in 2007, Safe-Hub was created to provide young people with a safe and supportive environment where sport, education, mentorship and personal development come together.

Through initiatives such as EduFootball, life-skills development, academic support and leadership opportunities, Safe-Hub provides young people with access to positive experiences and resources that extend beyond sport.

It is a model built around an important principle: when young people have access to safe spaces, supportive relationships and meaningful opportunities, they are better positioned to develop confidence, make informed decisions and participate actively in their communities.

Safe-Hub’s approach also reflects the importance of collaboration. By working with local partners, Safe-Hub creates spaces that respond to the realities and needs of young people and communities.

For the Soul City Institute, this collaborative approach is critical.

Putting young people at the centre

SCI’s work is grounded in the understanding that young people are not simply beneficiaries of development — they are active participants and leaders in creating healthier, safer and more just communities.

The partnership with Safe-Hub creates an opportunity to bring this approach to life by connecting young people with information, services, conversations and opportunities in a space where they feel comfortable and supported.

This was evident during the Youth Celebration hosted at Safe-Hub Khayelitsha, which brought together young people, community stakeholders and service providers for a day focused on learning, connection, recreation and celebration.

Participants were able to engage in activities while accessing information and support related to health, wellbeing and positive decision-making.

As Pamela Mankayi, Programme Officer at the Soul City Institute, explains:

“Youth development extends beyond simply providing information. Young people need spaces where they can ask questions, be heard, access support and connect with opportunities that can positively shape their lives.”

Partnership as a pathway to impact

For SCI, partnerships are an important part of building sustainable solutions to the challenges young people face.

Whether the focus is health, gender equality, mental wellbeing, violence prevention or meaningful youth participation, no single organisation can address these issues alone.

Collaboration allows organisations to combine their knowledge, networks and resources while creating opportunities for young people to access support closer to where they live, learn and socialise.

Safe-Hub provides an important community platform for this work.

Its focus on safety, sport, education and personal development complements SCI’s commitment to advancing social justice and ensuring that young people have the knowledge, agency and support they need to make informed choices.

From safe spaces to spaces of possibility

Creating safe spaces is not only about protecting young people from harm. It is also about creating environments where they can imagine possibilities for themselves.

A safe space is one where a young person can ask a question without fear of judgement, seek support when they need it, discover their strengths, develop new skills and participate in decisions that affect their lives.

It is a space where young people can move from simply being recipients of services to becoming active citizens, leaders and changemakers.

This is the kind of future that partnerships such as the one between SCI and Safe-Hub seek to build.

As South Africa celebrates the resilience, creativity and leadership of its young people, the Soul City Institute remains committed to working alongside organisations, communities and young people themselves to build environments where everyone can belong, participate and thrive.

Together, we are creating more than safe spaces. We are creating spaces of possibility where young people are supported to find their voice, realise their potential and shape the future they want to see.