From study support to life skills and confidence-building programmes, Safe-Hub is helping young people move from under-resourced communities into education, employment and entrepreneurship.
South Africa (24 June 2026) – With nearly 3.9 million young South Africans aged between 15 and 24 currently not in employment, education or training, stories of opportunity can sometimes feel hard to find.
For 21-year-old Anelisa from Gugulethu, however, the journey took a different turn.
Today, she is studying at the University of Cape Town and credits her milestone to Safe-Hub, a youth development organisation that creates safe spaces where young people can access education support, life skills programmes, sport and career opportunities.
“The support and opportunities I accessed through Safe-Hub contributed to my educational journey and motivated me to pursue higher education,” she said.
The experience exposed her to activities that boosted her confidence and personal growth.
“I was also able to participate in a variety of activities that contributed to my personal development, including sports programmes, hikes, movie days, game days, and community events during public holidays. These activities helped me build friendships, improve my communication skills, and become more confident when interacting with others.”
Her story is one of many emerging from Safe-Hub’s network of centres across South Africa.
The organisation was founded in 2007 after founder Florian Zech spent time working in Khayelitsha and saw first-hand how many young people lacked safe and supportive spaces to pursue their goals. What began as community football tournaments has since grown into a broader model that supports young people from early childhood through to employment.
Another young person whose life changed through the programme is Mihle, who worked as a Playmaker before launching her own business.
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According to Zech, the impact stretches beyond individual success stories.
“When a young person has a reliable, safe place and holistic support they can count on, over time that same place will open the way into training, a first job and pathways into a career, or a business of their own.”
And for young people like Anelisa and Mihle, those pathways have already become a reality.
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