BENNETTSVILLE — A new, exciting, and free safe space club for Marlboro County youth is now taking place every Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bennettsville Community Center located at 714 North Marlboro Street: Nah’Zia’s Corner. This safe space is open to kids and teens and is an initiative undertaken by local resident Tanesha Cook.
“The idea for Nah’Zia’s Corner came from my daughter passing away due to bullying three years ago,” Cook said.
Monday night’s club meeting started off with club members setting ground rules for how members would like to be treated. Some of the rules the kids set for each other were no bullying, being respectful of each other, no hitting, no cursing, no judging, no laughing at each other, and to be kind.
Cook said, “This is a non-judgement zone here, a place to be safe— this is your space to be open with each other and build confidence. Remember, there is no such thing as a crazy idea—think of the guy who created the internet—I bet people thought he was crazy when he first started talking about his idea.”
Helping to further set minds at ease, Cook has created an “anonymous” box for club members to leave any feelings or experiences they are dealing with that they may not be quite ready to share with the group but still want an adult to know.
Cook says that in addition to sharing feelings and experiences with each other, club members also participate in fun activities like painting, drawing, and playing outside.
“This is their group and I want everyone to feel comfortable here,” Cook says of the club that so far consists roughly of ten, though Cook says Nah’Zia’s Corner is eager to grow.
Also, during Monday’s meeting, members discussed qualities they feel make a good friend and how best to handle hurt or angry feelings.
Cook was quick to highlight: “Friends help us make good decisions and encourage us to be the best version of ourselves.”
Members say they feel like a good friend is trustworthy, kind, supportive, and makes others around them feel comfortable too. Suggestions for dealing with upset feelings were to walk away whenever possible, talk with an adult, go for a walk, or practice taking deep breaths.
Continuing her mission to meet youth where they are, Cook is already gearing up for her annual Back-to-School Bash in July.
“We gave away over 200 bookbags last year, free food, and we had Trinity Behavioral Care, Safe Places South Carolina come out and also had mental health resources and motivational speakers,” she said.
Cook says her community outreach and creating Nah’Zia’s Corner is important to her because it has become her passion for all kids to feel comfortable and safe.
“Not all kids feel comfortable talking with their parents or teachers and I want to create a safe place of peers — where they can learn from each other’s experiences,” Cook explains. “I want Nah’Zia’s Corner to be a safe outlet. There is not a lot to do in Bennettsville, and I want to stop kids from ever feeling like they don’t belong here in this world.”
Nah’Zia’s Corner will be held at the community center for the remainder of the school year. Cook says the program will continue year-round, however, a summer location is yet to be announced for the club.
“Every Monday I am going to be here,” Cook says about Nah’Zia’s Corner, adding, “Everything is free; I just want people to come and feel safe.”
Anyone interested in learning more, registering, or finding a way to help can contact Tanesha Cook at 843-544-3465.