Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS)
World Vision protects and cares for the most vulnerable victims
of disasters by establishing Child-Friendly Spaces in affected
communities.
Child-Friendly Spaces provide a disaster's youngest survivors
with a safe place to play, participate in structured activities,
and experience healing from any distress and loss they've
experienced.
They also allow children to return to healthy routines and
experience a sense of normalcy again.
1. What is a CFS?
A CFS is a structured and safe place where children and youth
meet other children to play, learn competencies to deal with the
risks they face, be involved in some educational activities and
relax in a safe place. It gives the children a sense of safety,
structure and continuity that provides support amidst overwhelming
experiences.
2. Where do you find a CFS?
It can be a school, a community centre, a tent(s) or an open
space in a camp or in a community. It MUST be a place where
children feel safe.
3. Why do you need a CFS?
- Play - A fun place with sports, team and cultural activities to
allow the children to switch off from their worries and
concerns.
- Formal and Informal Education that is more holistic and less
academic. For example:
- Literacy and numeracy
- Life skills
- Health education in new environments
- Psycho-education - learning that each child is having a normal
reaction to an abnormal situation. It is a transition time and
place to prepare the children before they re-engage into their
formal education system.
- A place to express and voice their feelings to help them
realize that they are not alone through role-plays, dances, talking
and traditional coping activities. Connecting these with local
culture is important as it gives rise to and restores positive
cultural identity.
- Learning important information on what is happening around them
helps them regain a sense of control in their lives.
- Allow parents/caregivers to attend to their daily activities
without worrying for their children's safety. A place for parents
to meet and support one another.
- Identifying separated children by registering them and for
parents/children to enquire about missing children/siblings.
- Identifying other vulnerable children who do not attend the
CFS, who are orphans, who have been abused, who have family members
who are missing, injured or killed or children with disabilities or
have other vulnerabilities.
4. Who comes to a CFS?
It must be accessible and culturally sensitive to all children
for example girls, street children, school dropouts, disabled,
children under fives etc. In some cultures, boys and girls may need
a separate space. Different age groups require different
activities.
5. Who works in a CFS?
Generally, they are local volunteers who have been recruited
using child protection practices. For example, teachers/community
workers, adults who work well with children or with some basic
psycho-social or childcare development training.
6. What is the role that CFS's play in helping children
profoundly affected by a crisis?
It plays an important role in identifying these children. Staff
are enabled to refer these children to specialized services if
available.
7. Why this approach?
It is a pragmatic approach as it reaches a large number of
children and allows for the integration of local social and
cultural practices. It aims at building capacities for coping with
grief and loss.
It focuses on wellness rather than on ill health. It is
important to involve community and religious leaders and local
service providers being careful not to romanticize local practices
and keeping a critical attitude that promotes the best interests of
the child.
How can you get involved?
You can help us prepare for future disasters by donating to the
Children
in Crisis Emergency Fund.