What a year inside the network adds up to — in numbers, and in the words of the people who live it.
Beyond the numbers, Safe-Hub has the kind of impact that can’t be measured. In their own words, here are a few Safe-Hub stories from young people, coaches, parents and community members on the impact of their local Safe-Hub.
“I’m training to be a social education assistant, and also work as a coach for GIRLS HUB, a project at Safe-Hub Berlin. The responsibility of being a coach has given me a lot of self-confidence. And now I get to give something back because I know that the players can better identify with a female coach.
My wish for the girls is that they are not afraid, that they stand up for themselves and pursue their dreams. For me, GIRLS HUB is the place where girls can learn to do just that.”
“I joined Safe-Hub in 2022 as a PlayMaker. Later that year, I was promoted to the role of Programme Officer, a lifetime opportunity that not only provides an honest living but also equips me with valuable skills.
Safe-Hub has given me the chance to strive for excellence and stay ambitious, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue being a part of this rapidly growing organisation, which gives hope to my community.”
“This support helped me grow Well n Well, and today I employ two staff members and continue to increase my production capacity.”
Andile started Well n Well in 2018, out of work and teaching himself to ferment yoghurt from online courses at the local library. For years he sold it himself: door to door on the East Rand and in Soweto, at taxi ranks and in the Joburg CBD.
In 2025 Safe-Hub selected him for its Trading Space Entrepreneurship Programme, part of LED. He got a permanent trading space at the Jabulani Safe-Hub, and with it a steady stream of customers and a base to grow from.
In 2026 Woolworths named Well n Well one of the 15 winners of its Youth Makers Competition. His plant-based almond yoghurts, made with indigenous superfoods, now sit on Woolworths shelves. Demand has outgrown his space, and he is preparing to move into a larger facility. He also sponsors and mentors a netball team in Jabulani.
“The biggest lesson I learnt is that listening is more powerful than giving advice. Many peers just need to be listened to without judgement.”
Like many young people in Soweto, Khanyisile needed work experience to find work, and work to gain experience. The Safe-Hub Support Centre gave her a way in.
She joined the first cohort of Peer Support Agents. Safe-Hub and Amathuba Collective trained her for four weeks, then placed her in a paid three-month role, making weekly calls to young people from communities like her own. Throughout, she had check-ins, debriefs and Wellness Wednesdays to support her too.
She learnt to stay steady through hard conversations, to recognise when someone needed more help than she could give, and to look after herself. “You cannot pour from an empty cup.” Knowing her peers trusted her with their stories gave her a sense of purpose: “It felt so meaningful and humbling at the same time. It made me proud.”
She completed her placement in September 2026 with real work experience and job search support, and she knows her next step: a career as cabin crew. “I can use communication and empathy skills to make customers feel safe.”
“These activities helped me build friendships, improve my communication skills and become more confident when interacting with others.”
Anelisa first came to the Gugulethu Safe-Hub in 2022 for sport, hikes, film afternoons and game days. Over time it became the place where her friendships, and her confidence, grew.
Safe-Hub then gave her room to lead. With other young people, she organised a week of activities on diversity, respect, LGBTQI+ inclusion and human rights, building her teamwork and public speaking along the way. “Safe-Hub gave me opportunities to grow as a leader and encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone.”
The practical support mattered just as much. Free internet and a quiet study space let her finish assignments, research, write her CV and look for work. Through Safe-Hub’s support, she completed her schoolwork, submitted her university applications and secured a place at the University of Cape Town.
Now 21 and a UCT student, she says: “My time at Safe-Hub played an important role in my growth both personally and academically.”
Lebone grew up in Alexandra, raised by her single mother in her grandfather’s home. A job as a sales agent showed her she loved making a deal, and when it ended, she decided to build something of her own. She took her mother’s idea of selling coffee and sandwiches and started Lumos Coffee Creations in her grandfather’s home.
Safe-Hub gave her the ground to grow from. Through the LED programme at Safe-Hub Alex, she gained workspace beyond the family home and mentors who took her business seriously. Practical workshops in financial planning, business management and growth strategy turned an idea run from a kitchen into a business with a plan.
Lumos now serves handcrafted coffees, iced drinks, smoothies, waffles and its signature waffle burger. It is also a place where young people in Alex can meet without alcohol at the centre.
In 2024, at 20, she was selected as an Anzisha Prize Fellow, one of the Top 28 Young African Entrepreneurs. In 2025 she was nominated for Most Promising Founder of the Year (Under 30) at the Founder of the Year Awards. Her goal is to build the biggest township café brand in South Africa, starting with a sit-down coffee shop and jobs for other young people.