What started as merely a Social Employment Fund (SEF) Community Safety team initiative in Lawley Station, is now growing into a passion-driven movement empowering the Lawley Station community and addressing social challenges affecting young people.

Building on the success of the Safe Spaces for Girls Campaign, held in February 2026 in Lawley Station, the Safety team hosted an to provide young men with opportunities to reflect on the challenges facing their communities while having constructive and open conversations and to build solidarity pathways.

The event brought together more than 100 young men from the ages of 12- 25 from Lawley Station informal settlement community to engage in meaningful discussions on substance abuse, gender-based violence (GBV), health, human rights, and making positive life choices.

The event was supported by professionals from Shout-It-Now, Sizanani, and the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA), alongside Siyabonga Molefe popularly known as Mzera, a young man from the Lawley Station community who shared his personal experiences and life lessons, inspiring participants through his life journey.

Reflecting on his life experiences, Mzera encouraged participants to make positive decisions, saying: “I was once your age. I listened to wrong friends and made bad decisions, which then led to my arrest and put me in a correctional facility, that is not where you want to find yourselves. I urge you to focus on your schoolwork and be mindful of your decisions for a bright future. Now, when I want something, I work for it, because short cuts do not work in life.”

In addition to the discussions, attendees had access to health screening and counselling services, promoting both awareness and wellbeing.

The success of the campaign was made possible through the support of local businesses, community members, and participants whose contributions helped bring the initiative to life.

As the initiative continues to grow, the team remains committed to creating safe spaces beyond the SEF. Phulusho Tshivhenga, Supervisor of the Community Safety Team under the SEF, highlighted the team’s vision for the future: “our goal is to inspire positive change and strengthen our community through ongoing empowerment programmes. We plan to continue hosting campaigns that create safe spaces for our community members to discuss issues affecting them, with the long-term aim of establishing an NGO dedicated to community development and empowerment.”