Safer Schools Project

Creating Safer Schools & Peaceful Communities

At Youth for Today and Tomorrow (YTT), we believe that every young person deserves to learn and grow in a safe, supportive, and violence-free environment. Through our Safer Schools and Peaceful Communities project, we’re tackling the challenges of school violence, bullying, drug abuse, and mental health issues to create safer spaces for learners and their communities.

The Challenge

Schools should be places of learning, growth, and opportunity. But across Bulawayo, Tsholotsho, and Matobo, many schools face serious challenges:

School Violence and Bullying: Many learners experience physical, emotional, or verbal abuse, making it difficult to focus on education.
Drug and Substance Abuse: Rising drug use among youth harms health, academic performance, and future prospects.
Mental Health Struggles: Stress, depression, and anxiety are on the rise, yet many young people lack access to support.
Lack of Safe Spaces: Without proper structures, schools and communities often struggle to address these issues effectively.

Our Intervention

To address these challenges, YTT launched the Safer Schools and Peaceful Communities project. Our interventions include:

Psych Clinics: Free counseling services helping students cope with stress, depression, and emotional challenges.To address these challenges, YTT launched the Safer Schools and Peaceful Communities project. Our interventions include
School and Community Dialogues: Open conversations between learners, teachers, and community members to address bullying, violence, and drug abuse.
Capacity Building: Training students, teachers, and community leaders in conflict resolution, peace-building, and mental health awareness.
Awareness Campaigns: Radio shows, workshops, and events to educate youth on drug abuse and the importance of mental well-being.
Youth-Led Initiatives: Empowering young people to lead efforts in creating safer schools and communities, fostering ownership and responsibility.

The Impact

Since its launch, the project has made a measurable difference:

Reduced Violence: Participating schools have seen a noticeable decrease in bullying and violence, creating safer learning environments.
Improved Mental Health: Learners can manage stress and emotional challenges more effectively thanks to counseling services and workshops.
Empowered Youth: Students act as ambassadors of peace, spreading positive change within their schools and communities.
Stronger Communities: Engagement of parents, teachers, and community leaders builds a network of support for young people.

One learner shared: “Before YTT came to our school, I was always scared and stressed. Now, I feel supported and know that I’m not alone.”

Looking Ahead

YTT aims to:

Expand Coverage: Reach more schools across Matabeleland and beyond, ensuring thousands more learners benefit from safer, supportive environments.
Scale Awareness Campaigns: Use media, workshops, and youth-led platforms to spread anti-violence and anti-drug messages to wider audiences.