Closing down of Child Friendly Spaces marked

During the past week, children from areas affected by floods created and realised closing activities of Child Friendly Spaces in which they demonstrated what they have learned and what they have been doing during the past two months.

Concept of Child Friendly Space comprises of a space where children can continue to learn and develop during and after the crisis. Child Friendly Space provides a safe place for children to regain sense of normalcy and structure through organized activities e.g. playing, socialising, learning, it gives them opportunity to express their fears and reasons for happiness. Save the Children established Child Friendly Spaces in areas of Obrenovac, Lazarevac and Belgrade in partnership with Centre for Youth Integration with aim to promptly ensure space where children can be risk free for their psychological and social health and wellbeing. Functioning of Child Friendly Spaces was especially important during the school break.

During July and August, in total 1450 boys and girls from Obrenovac, Lazarevac and Belgrade participated in over 7200 different activities. Through different activities children were supported in fighting their fears that apeared as consequences of floods, evacuation, displacement, destruction of their houses and schools... Also, Child Friendly Spaces allowed parents to temporary leave their children in a safe place with personnel trained to work with children, so they could focus on dealing with consequences of floods such as cleaning and reconstruction of their homes or finding or renewal of their sources of income.

Last week was marked with rich and authentic programs in 15 locations, created and prepared by children for their peers, parents, care takers and community.

Child Friendly Space took important place in children lives. Seven year old L.B. from Obrenovac learned to tell time in order not to be late to Child Friendly Space activities. Girl A.P. from Obrenovac described her impressions like this: "Child Friendly Space is the best place I have been to in my whole life. I will remember it as long as I'm alive.“ One of the frequently asked questions was: “Are you coming next summer as well?“

One mother from Veliki Crljeni near Lazarevac describes what Child Friendly Space meant to her and her children in the pasrt couple of months: “We didn’t even know we need this kind of assistance more than other that we did or didn’t get. This was a big deal for me and my children.”

Save the Children thank all the boys and girls that were coming to Child Friendly Spaces everyday, to their parents and care-takers, all volunteers as well as proffessionals who contributed to the work of Child Friendly Spaces – Centre for Youth Integration in the first place, and than Center for Civic Activities from Obrenovac and Roma Women Centre and Association Rom from Lazarevac.

Save the Children uses this opportunity to also thank to all those who assisted project realization on any way, such as Secretariat for Education and Child Protecting from Belgrade, Obrenovac and Lazarevac municipal administrations and primary schools where activities were held.