The availability of safe spaces geared toward women of color, more specifically, East African women, is crucial to these women achieving success throughout their college careers. The sense of belonging fostered in safe spaces can be the grounding factor for individuals experiencing a lack of community on their campuses. However, a safe space is not an environment in which everyone merely looks the same. The true essence of a safe space is manifested in shared experiences, identity and beliefs. It is a space where one feels comfortable being their authentic self, without fear of judgement. This photo essay was created with the purpose of raising awareness about the significance of safe spaces in educational settings and within communities. The importance of access, or lack thereof, to safe spaces has had an impactful affect in shaping the experiences of these three young East African college students from City Heights and San Diego.
“There is always pressure that you need to hurry up and get your degree, so you can hurry up and support your family, (but) I feel like if I had the support to tell me it’s okay, to take one breath at a time, I definitely would have been okay,” said Hayatt Yasin, former Youth Coordinator at United Women of East Africa Support Team (UWEAST), about her time at Grossmont College.
“There is always pressure that you need to hurry up and get your degree, so you can hurry up and support your family, (but) I feel like if I had the support to tell me it’s okay, to take one breath at a time, I definitely would have been okay,” said Hayatt Yasin, former Youth Coordinator at United Women of East Africa Support Team (UWEAST), about her time at Grossmont College.
“Outside of ‘Umoja’ (Swahili for Unity) – I felt like an outsider, like I didn’t belong there. I felt separate so I just (went) there to go to class and then I (went) home,” said Famo Musa, City Heights resident and photographer, when describing her experience attending Grossmont College for her Associates Degree.
