“Safe Space Support Africa started because too many girls are still forced into silence and cycles of pain they did not choose. No woman or child should inherit trauma or carry it alone. Together, we are breaking the pattern, building communities where healing begins and futures are rewritten.”
This is why we exist to turn silence into strength and pain into purpose.
Our Philosophy
At Safe Space Support Africa, we believe change begins where people feel safe to speak. Our approach combines local wisdom, peer-led support, and structured community programs to create lasting transformation, not dependency.
We don’t arrive with solutions. We start with conversations, listening to women, youth, and elders about what they face and what healing looks like in their own words. From these dialogues, we co-design programs that meet real needs: after-school learning for children, support circles for mothers, mentorship for youth, and care initiatives for the elderly.
Our model is built on peer support, ordinary people trained to listen, guide, and walk beside others through difficult seasons. By strengthening emotional resilience and community trust, we help families address root causes of trauma, dropout, and isolation before they grow into crises.
Technology plays a key role in extending our reach. Through WhatsApp-based peer groups and digital mentorship tools, SSSA connects communities even in remote areas, ensuring that no one is left behind simply because of distance or income.
We measure progress through stories and evidence: children staying in school, mothers rebuilding confidence, and communities organising to support one another. Healing isn’t an event; it’s a process, and our role is to make that process accessible, sustainable, and shared.
How Healing Happens at SSSA
Listen – We begin by hearing real stories from women, youth, and elders.
Train – We equip peer mentors with skills in listening, empathy, and support.
Support – Mentors lead after-school circles, mothers’ groups, and community sessions.
Transform – Communities regain hope, children stay in school, and cycles of trauma begin to break.
Our Guiding Principles
Start with Listening: Every program begins with lived experience, not assumptions.
Build from Within: We train community mentors, not outside experts.
Blend Healing and Learning: Education and wellbeing grow together.
Use What We Have: Classrooms, WhatsApp, community spaces. We begin with what’s available.
Leave Communities Stronger: Our programs are designed for local ownership, not dependency.
Our Certified Mentors, Our Strength
Every Safe Space Support Africa mentor carries a story of courage, empathy, and service.
These are the voices behind the movement, ordinary people creating extraordinary change.
Gift Chilambo
"Through my journey as a peer supporter, I've discovered the strength in vulnerability and the healing power of connection. I'm passionate about creating a supportive community where individuals can feel seen, heard, and empowered to overcome challenges. Together, let's foster a culture of care, understanding, and resilience."
Lameck Chirwa
"Through Safe Space Support Africa, I have realised so many things which will help me, my fellow youth and my community members. eg through this program, I understand that so many people are having trauma, which needs some people to give them hope and confidence."
Zamiwe Verity Siliya
"As a peer support mentor, the training has given me a toolkit to support others with empathy and trauma's impacts that will make a real difference in my community. talk, heal, grow."
Maria Lutepo
"Being a peer support, I have learned the most important lesson about the power of empathy and non-judgmental listening in creating safe spaces for individuals to share their stories and heal."
Charles Nkhoma
Jane Chomo
"As a peer support mentor, the training makes me strong to help others in my community without being judgmental"
Paul Chirwa
"Iam Paul, and I'm passionate about creating safe spaces for healing and growth. Through Safe Space Support Africa, I have discovered my purpose in empowering others to openly talk about their struggles and find support. Together, let's break the silence and foster a community of love, care, and understanding. Talk, heal, and grow every voice matters."
Grace Nkhoma
"As a peer supporter mentor with safe space support africa, l commit to respect confidentiality, listen with empathy without judgement and i learned to uphold boundaries and breaking the silence in our community so that together we can Talk, Heal, Grow"
Ellen Chiuma
“This program helped me realize that I don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. All it takes is empathy, respect, and care. As a peer-support mentor, I will use what I’ve learned to guide others with compassion and hope.”
Warlaz Starnely
"Through my journey with Safe Space Support Africa, I’ve learned the true power of active listening and empathy when supporting others with mental health challenges. I’ve realised that sometimes people don’t need advice, they just need someone to listen without judgment and validate their feelings. I’ve also learned how important self-care and boundaries are in this work. By being a compassionate, non-judgmental listener, I can help create a safe space where my peers feel seen, heard, and supported."
Idah Kondowe
Mary Nyirenda
"Being a peer-support mentor has helped me understand the challenges that many in my community, especially adolescent girls and young women, face around gender-based violence. Through Safe Space training, I’ve learned how to support them with empathy and without judgment, helping each person find strength and healing in their own way. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and grateful for the journey. Let’s talk, heal, and grow.”
Julias Kaunda
“Working with Safe Space Support Africa has shown me how powerful education and mentorship can be when combined with compassion. As the coordinator of the after-school program, I’ve seen children regain confidence, improve in school, and find joy in learning again. Every session reminds me that creating a safe space for young people doesn’t just shape their future, it strengthens the entire community.”
Symon Kamanga
Catherine Phiri
“Being part of Safe Space Support Africa has taught me that every story matters. As a mentor and secretary, I’ve learned the importance of listening carefully, keeping records that reflect real voices, and helping to turn conversations into action. Watching people open up, heal, and grow reminds me why I chose to serve because healing begins when we feel heard.”