In Malawi, a significant number of young people face challenges that force them to drop out of school. Doreen Nkolokosa, 18, is one such individual who had to quit school in Form Three at Phereni Community Day Secondary School in Lilongwe after her father's death. Despite her mother's efforts to provide for the family, Nkolokosa's education seemed to be over. However, she is now among the scores of youth attending Safe Space Friday sessions, a mentorship and psychosocial intervention program.
The Safe Space Friday initiative was founded by Tusekile Mwalwanda last May at Raine's Clinic in Lilongwe's Mtandire Township. The program offers a safe environment for vulnerable young people, especially adolescent girls and young mothers who have experienced abuse, neglect, or teenage pregnancies. Mwalwanda's initiative has already seen 30 girls who dropped out of primary schools re-enroll, while 20 others, including four boys, have returned to secondary school. Additionally, 21 others have opted for vocational training.
Mwalwanda's program did not begin as a pre-designed plan. She started with a simple idea of creating a space where young people could feel seen, heard, and safe. As the initiative progressed, Mwalwanda realized that the mentorship inroads needed to lead somewhere practical. The program now motivates dropouts to return to school, with the support of organizations like the Joyce Banda Foundation, which paid K50 000 registration fees for 20 young people to enroll at Phereni Open Secondary School.
The Malawi Demographic and Health Survey released in 2025 reveals that about two in five girls marry before their 18th birthday, and one in three become mothers before reaching 19. Nkolokosa's dream of becoming a nurse seemed dashed, but re-enrollment has restored her hopes. She wants to finish what she started and make her mother's sacrifices worthwhile. The Safe Space Friday initiative aims to provide young people with a reason to wake up in the morning, a goal to work towards, and a vision for their future.
Phereni Secondary School's open distance learning coordinator, Shepherd Kafotene, says the readmission policy gives girls who dropped out a second chance. With the right support and commitment, these girls can pick up from where they stopped and work towards achieving their future goals. Kafotene emphasizes that dropping out doesn't have to mean the end of their education, and the school wants them to know that the door is still open.
Mwalwanda's initiative has also addressed practical needs that undermine young people's progress. She hired maids to care for a pair of two-month-old babies while their mothers attended classes. The program's success can be attributed to its inclusive approach, which believes in creating spaces that include the boy child. Mwalwanda's vision is to empower young people, especially girls, to see that their lives can be more than just becoming someone's wife.
The Safe Space Friday initiative has shown promising results, with 30 girls re-enrolling in primary school and 20 others returning to secondary school. The program's impact extends beyond education, as it provides a platform for young people to discuss their challenges and explore solutions. As Nkolokosa says, "I want to finish what I started. I want my mother to see that the sacrifices she made for me were not wasted."
Key points
- The Safe Space Friday initiative has encouraged 30 girls to re-enroll in primary school and 20 others to return to secondary school.
- The program provides a safe environment for vulnerable young people, especially adolescent girls and young mothers who have experienced abuse, neglect, or teenage pregnancies.
- The initiative's success is attributed to its inclusive approach, which believes in creating spaces that include the boy child.
