SafeBAE Listed as a Statewide Resource—Proof That Youth-Led Prevention Works

SafeBAE Recognized in Statewide Report on Women & Girls

This week, the Rhode Island Women’s Foundation released a groundbreaking report on the state of women and girls in Rhode Island, shining a light on key issues like safety, wellness, poverty, and housing. Reports like these serve as a critical roadmap for change, identifying actionable solutions to improve the lives of women and girls in the state.

Among the solutions highlighted? SafeBAE.

The report recognized the impact of SafeBAE’s work in Rhode Island, specifically in reducing relationship violence through youth-led education and advocacy. As part of the report’s release, young people were invited to participate in the conversation, giving voice to the next generation of leaders working toward safer, healthier communities.

Enetu, a former SafeBAE Summer Activist Institute attendee and leader of her school’s SafeBAE club at Paul Cuffee Charter School, was among those present to support the event. Her presence was a powerful reminder of how young people are actively shaping the future, taking the education and advocacy skills they’ve learned and using them to create real change in their schools and communities.

As the panel discussions unfolded, one question stood out—what do young people need when it comes to healthy relationship education in schools? The answers made it clear: there is still so much work to be done.

What Young People Are Saying About Healthy Relationship Education

When the panel turned to the topic of healthy relationship education in schools, the students in the room didn’t hold back. They spoke from experience, highlighting the gaps, the frustrations, and the changes they want to see.

One student shared a perspective that resonated deeply. She reflected on her own high school’s approach to relationship education and noticed something frustrating—only the girls were being taught about it. She questioned why boys weren’t receiving the same education, pointing out the obvious: “They’re going to be in the relationship too—so why are they not being educated on how to have healthy relationships?”

Her concern wasn’t just about fairness—it was about effectiveness. Teaching only one side of a relationship what boundaries, respect, and consent should look like isn’t enough. If only girls are taught how to recognize unhealthy behavior, but boys aren’t taught what accountability and respect actually look like, the cycle of harm continues.

Another student raised another issue—timing. She shared how relationship education wasn’t even introduced until high school, despite the fact that many of her classmates had already been in relationships since middle school. By the time these conversations happened, it felt like they were too late. She questioned why schools wait until students have already navigated breakups, pressure, and unhealthy situations before giving them the tools to understand what a healthy relationship should look like.

These points cut to the core of why SafeBAE exists. If we only educate some students, we are failing all of them. If we wait too long, we are letting harm happen before we even try to prevent it. The students at this event made it clear—there’s a lot of work left to do.

SafeBAE’s Role in Creating the Next Generation of Leaders

The inclusion of SafeBAE in this report is a powerful acknowledgment of the tangible, lasting impact our work has had in Rhode Island. For years, SafeBAE has worked directly with students, providing peer-led education, advocacy training, and prevention programming to ensure that young people aren’t just receiving information but leading the movement for change themselves.

The fact that SafeBAE was listed as a statewide resource is a testament to the power of youth-led education. We are not just hosting one-off presentations. We are training the next generation of leaders. We are changing the way schools approach prevention. We are giving students the tools to create the change they want to see in their own communities.

And the message is spreading. When young people are empowered with knowledge and leadership, the ripple effect is unstoppable.

Keep the Momentum Going – Support Youth-Led Prevention

SafeBAE’s recognition in this report is a reminder that real change starts with education, advocacy, and young people leading the way. But there’s still so much work to do. Too many students are going without the tools they need to navigate relationships safely, and too many schools are failing to provide comprehensive, inclusive education on consent and dating violence prevention.

If you believe in the power of peer-led education and want to help expand our impact, here’s how you can take action today:

• Bring SafeBAE to Your School – Our trained speakers lead powerful, interactive presentations on consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention. Hire a speaker and bring this conversation to your community.
• Become a Peer Educator – If you’re a student who wants to take the lead in prevention education, sign up for our Peer Educator Training and learn how to facilitate conversations that make a difference.

Support Our Work – Every donation allows us to keep these programs free and accessible to students everywhere. Donate today and invest in the next generation of leaders.