Child Friendly Space – salvation in emergency situations

Better preparedness of schools and kindergartens to react in cases of natural and other disasters is assessed as the most important step in establishment of better child protection system in emergencies. Namely, this was discussed by representatives of 38 Child Friendly Spaces established after the heavy floods in May 2014 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with representatives of local, entities' and state authorities gathered on March 5^th in Sarajevo.

Organisations Save the Children, UNICEF and World Vision BiH, in partnership with the Ministry of Security BiH organized a conference entitled „Children First: Protection Mechanisms in Emergency Situations“ in order to present the work of Child Friendly Spaces, but also to establish platform for exchange of experiences and recommendations that can be used in similar situations in the future.   

The Conference was inaugurated with a photo exhibition and an exhibition of children’s art works entitled “One Day of Growing Up”, with boys and girls from Child Friendly Space Begov Han and members of Sarajevo Drum Orchestra performing the “Bravery Anthem”, written by the children from the Child Friendly Space and representing children’s defiance to May’s floods and landslides, as described by Edina, one of the authors.

“The anthem is a picture of ours as well as other Child Friendly Spaces, and on behalf of all children I want to thank to all of those who enabled us to continue enjoying our childhoods, despite the horrible floods we experienced,” said Edina after the anthem performance.

In a state of emergency, Child Friendly Spaces provide a safe environment for the youngest where they can regain the sense of normalcy and structure through organized activities of playing, socialising and learning. Here they can express their fears and reasons for joy. This way, children can rebuild their resilience that will enable their further development and reduce direct risks they are exposed to after natural disaster. These spaces, established at 38 locations in BiH, were of great assistance to children in recovery from suffered traumas and shock caused by the floods and landslides that happened during 2014 in BiH. Save the Children established a total of 25 Child Friendly Spaces, 19 in BiH and 6 in Serbia, along with 18 mobile Child Friendly Spaces that visited the most affected areas in both countries.

“Statements from the parents and children that we gathered in the field best illustrate how important Child Friendly Spaces were in the period after the floods, confirming that these spaces truly contributed to children’s’ recovery after suffered trauma and shock. One thing that is especially important after this humanitarian intervention is that there are now conditions to, in cases of emergencies, rapidly mobilize human and other resources in local communities to take care of children and to provide them with psychosocial support if necessary,” said Director of Save the Children, Andrea Žeravčić.

World Vision’s National Director for BiH Sarah Bearup said that the conference’s title “Children first” is at the same time a message about the place that the children should occupy. “When a natural disaster such as this one happens, children are usually the most exposed to harm and other dangers. Child Friendly Spaces are one of the ways to prioritise care for children and their protection in crisis situation”.

According to data from BiH Ministry of Security, around 60% of children population in BiH was affected by the floods. “The aim of this conference and of the measures that we implemented and that all of us together are still implementing is to ensure that, in accordance with the Convention of the Rights of the Child, children are allowed to continue their childhood and education even in cases of a natural disaster,” stated BiH Deputy Minister of Security, Mladen Čavar.

Manual for child protection in crisis situation was also presented at the conference. “With the desire to ensure quality and consistency, UNICEF initiated the development of Minimum standards for Child Friendly Spaces, adjusted to the local context. Today these standards are available and ready, as well as other lessons learned from last year’s crisis, and can serve as strong foundation for children in case of possible future crisis situation,” said the Representative of UNICEF in BiH, Ayman A. Abulaban.

Child Friendly Spaces were opened all over BiH with support of: European Union through Flood Recovery Program, UNICEF, Swiss Government, Swedish International Development Agency, BASF, Malta Government, Save the Children and World Vision. Short video documentary about the work of Child Friendly Spaces is available here.