Child Friendly Spaces in Reception Centres: Supporting asylum-seeking children and their families in Finland

In the autumn of 2015, Europe struggled to cope with the influx of people escaping conflict and crisis in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. The Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs) project was seen as a pilot project by Save the Children Finland. It was the first time that Save the Children Finland utilized an intervention in a Finnish context that is usually implemented in the countries in which the humanitarian emergency has occurred.

The concept and objectives of the CFSs turned out to be very adaptable to a high income and well-functioning country such as Finland. The need for basic services, safety, care, daily structure and meaningful action for children escaping life- and health-threatening circumstances are the same irrespective of the surrounding environment. Read this report to learn more about the challenges faced during the pilot and the key lessons learned.