Child Friendly Spaces: Protection for Children in Emergencies

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Child Friendly Spaces Protection for Children
in Emergencies
By J Thatparan Head of Child Protection Save the
Children in Sri Lanka 6th November 2009
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Geographic focus Child Protection

• Area of focus Multi approach
• Developmental works East
• Humanitarian focus - North
• Advocacy and piloting South and West
• One TPP with three over all objectives and clear
  indicators in 9 operational areas for the TPP

"un cleared /No man area"
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Objectives of CFS

Promotion of child protection and well-being
through Providing immediate protection and
security through a safe, supervised space for
children to gather and play Promoting the
recovery of children from stressful events
associated with the emergency through
childrenfocused activities (play and informal
education) CFSs are developed through community
mobilization and child participation for adults
to organize themselves for children, strengthen
the sustainability of child protection and
support programmes and recover the capacities of
communities
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Principles of CFS

• Participation Activities should involve all
  children, boys and girls including children with
  disabilities from the planning to implementation
  stage. Do not force children to participate.
• Child rights Basic approach to CFS that provides
  support to childrens physical, emotional,
  social, spiritual and mental development
• Age-appropriate activities (0-5, 6-12, 13-18)
  development age
• Gender Sensitive Activities meeting the needs
  for both boys and girls and sometimes play items
  are gender specific.
• Culturally relevant Respecting values, beliefs,
  practices and tradition of the people
• Responsive Contents of the activities must meet
  the specific needs of children and balance
  between structured activities and free play
  activities
• Community participation Integral part of CFS
  both in the planning of activities and management
  of CFS

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Impact of Conflict Displacement

• Impact
• Armed conflict breaks trust, destroys
  communities, reduces opportunities for personal
  development, and creates deep psychological
  wounds
• Armed Conflict and displacement affects
  relationships, family and community networks, and
  economic status.
• In situations of armed conflict, children are due
  to death, separation and other losses,
  experiencing or witnessing violence, family and
  community breakdown, damaged human values and
  practices, and destruction of environment,
  including facilities and services
• Impact Displacement Change of physical and
  social environment, disruption daily routine/
  insecurity/ no freedom of movement/ increased
  dependence

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Process - CFS

• Phase 1 Emergency setting
• Initial emergency response - NGOs and
  communities - to create "safe areas" or
  "child-friendly spaces" for children and
  adolescents to play, socialize, learn and express
  themselves.
• Phase 2 Strengthening the CFS and putting in
  place a referral system, ensuring a protective
  environment
• Phase 3 Transitional phase
• Eventually these activities transition into
  formal schooling, after-school recreational
  activities for out-of school adolescents and
  youth, and club activities or community social
  activities.
• Phase out community support structures
  rebuilt/IDPs return back to the place of origin
  transition to children clubs
• Note Difference between CFS and children clubs
  (targeting All children vs. specific target
  group/activities??)

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Planning of Child Friendly Space

• Meeting with Camp Management
• Meeting with relevant people Authorities
• Involve children and community members in design
  and running of CFS
• Identify volunteers responsible for CFS
• Plan Training for volunteers
• Identify resources to set up the CFS

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Ethical Guidelines

• Privacy and Confidentiality
• Important for the integrity, security and peace
  of mind of children and their families
• Respect personal lives and their right to privacy
  
• Informed Consent
• Objectives and purpose of the activities must be
  explained to children and their families and
  obtaining consent of any activities is essential
• Informed consent needed for pictures/video
• Participation should not be forced

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Activities in Child Friendly SpaceAn Integrated
Approach

• Child Protection Recreational sports, play,
  story telling/ writing, group discussions, poem,
  drama, singing, music, drawing, etc
• Psychosocial Support, culturally sensitive
  healing/ counseling
• Refer vulnerable children to appropriate
  services/ link with CPC
• Training Volunteers
• Education Pre school activities, non-formal
  education, evening tuition classes and place for
  studying
• DRR Identification Safe Space, Awareness Raising
  Activities at CFS (Life skills, Mine Risk
  Awareness, etc)

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Programme

• Structured play and recreational activities
• Drawing, storytelling, singing, sports, drama and
  games
• Teamwork, cooperation, trust building,
  empowerment
• Educational Activities
• literacy and numeracy (especially if formal
  school is not available)
• Protection Activities
• Avoiding risks and hazards in the local
  environment
• basic health and hygiene
• Community Based Activities
• religious instruction appropriate to the local
  context
• specific activities to meet needs of community
  (i.e. clean up campaigns)

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Integrating Child Protection in CFS

• Prevention of child and family separations
• Awareness of landmines and environmental hazards
• Awareness on the needs of adolescents
• Reintegration and rehabilitation of child
  soldiers
• Care for victims of sexual and gender-based
  violence
• Involvement of children and women in camp
  logistics

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Management of Child Friendly SpaceRoles and
Responsibilities

• Volunteers daily running of CFS organizing age
  gender appropriate activities at fixed times,
  supervision children
• Children communities ongoing participation in
  organizing CFS activities
• Child Protection Agency Providing Technical
  Guidance and support, monitoring and providing
  materials (play and school materials)
• Child Protection Agency Training/ capacity
  building of Volunteers (CRC and basic child
  protection)

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Monitoring

• Develop Check List Form for CFS
• Set up and Access
• CFS Activities
• Volunteers and Facilitators
• Children in Need of Special Protection
• Identification of Child Protection issues
• Parents and Communities
• Materials

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Break through..

• Achieved
• 141 Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) were established
• Mobilizing through 408 trained volunteers
• Over 55,675, children have been participating in
  recreational activities
• Since April 2009, 542 separated or unaccompanied
  children living in IDP camps have been released
  and reunified with their parents/relatives
• However 667 children placed in orphanages
• Challenges
• An undetermined number of pending cases need
  intensive follow-up in order to ensure family
  care and community-based reintegration.
  (database!!)
• Regarding children released from armed groups,
  538 children have been documented and produced
  before the relevant magistrates and social
  inquiry reports completed. (but their mobility!!)
• Care and psychosocial support is being given to
  these children in close collaboration with the
  Ministry of Justice/ Commissioner General of
  Rehabilitation. (from when!!)
• Vocational training and community based
  reintegration remain a priority for the following
  months/years. (resettlement!!)