Dedza, MALAWI— Just a year ago, many of them would have laughed at the idea. Today, they call it their Safe Space.

UNFPA, through the Addressing Challenges to Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment through SRHR (ACE) project funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has established 30 Boys’ Safe Space Clubs in 12 primary schools. The aim is simple but powerful: help boys grow into responsible, confident young men who reject violence and make informed decisions about their lives.

In these clubs, boys meet regularly with trained male mentors who guide honest conversations about gender-based violence, early marriage, sexual and reproductive health, and respect for girls. They also strengthen basic literacy skills and learn about their rights, lessons that go far beyond the classroom.

“At first, the boys were shy,” says Mr. John Chakudza, Primary Education Advisor for Thete Zone. “Now they speak with confidence. They understand that education matters and that violence is not strength.”

The change is visible. Some boys who were at risk of dropping out have returned to school. Young fathers who once struggled to read are improving their literacy skills. More importantly, boys are beginning to question harmful norms that have long shaped their communities.

In Kanyezi, Male Champion Anold James leads weekly sessions filled with open discussion and practical advice. He talks frankly about the risks of early marriage and early pregnancy, and about the importance of accessing sexual and reproductive health services.

“We encourage boys to seek help when their rights are violated and to use health services without fear or shame,” explains Sem Batson, a focal point person in the area.

As stigma fades, more boys are visiting youth-friendly corners at local health facilities. They are learning where to report abuse, how to resist peer pressure, and how to build respectful relationships.

Joel Saizi, a club member in Kanyezi, says the Safe Space changed the way he sees himself. “The Safe Space turned my curiosity into confidence. I now know my rights and who to turn to if those rights are threatened,” he says.

In Katewe Zone and beyond, the message is spreading: boys have a role to play in ending violence and supporting gender equality.

By investing in boys today, the ACE Project is helping shape a generation of young men in Dedza defined not by dominance, but by respect and  responsibility, walking alongside girls toward a safer, more equal future.