Our first Safe Space Session was held on Friday, 17th of February, from 3pm to 6pm at the Mebala Youth Studios premises in Gaborone West, in collaboration with the Botswana Trans Initiative (BTI).
The session was themed ‘The Self Love Club’ and it aimed to celebrate self love, and highlight how it builds foundations for healthy romantic relationships. We were joined by Mr Thatayamodimo Mhalapitsa, who discussed Intimate Partner Violence. Mr Mhalapitsa is a versatile counselling and mental health practitioner with experience in HIV/AIDS programming and human rights activism, particularly in the LGBTQIA+ space. He is both experienced and professional in dealing with marginalised communities, thus we trusted he would bring the necessary level of sensitivity and depth to the session discussion.
The session targeted young people, both single and in relationships, who are interested in learning about healthy relationships and understanding Intimate Partner Violence. The intention is to create a relaxed space for young people to get to know each other, and have open conversations about their experiences, and to establish an empathetic community of safety where bodily autonomy and mutual respect are the founding principles of the space. GBV messaging is often one size fits all in its approach, and we believe these sessions will allow us to dig into the deeper nuances of how it is affecting the lives of young people in Botswana, and what we can do to change it.