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Child friendly spaces CFS
Child friendly spaces (CFS) have become a widely used approach to protect and provide psychosocial support to children in emergencies. CFS is one of Save the Children’s key interventions to protect children from physical harm and psychosocial distress and to help them continue learning and developing both during and immediately after an emergency. CFS - refers to spaces where communities create nurturing environments for children to access free and structured play, recreation, leisure and learning activities; and a venue to identify vulnerable and at-risk children to facilitate their referral for immediate response. The CFS may provide health, nutrition and psychosocial support and other services and activities, which will restore their normal functioning. They are designed and operated in a participatory manner, and may serve a specific age group of children or a variety of age groups. CFS are important throughout a crisis, from emergency to recovery.
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Philippine National Implementation Guidelines for Child Friendly Spaces in Emergencies
According to the Global Climate Risk Index, the Philippines is considered the fourth most vulnerable country in the world to climate change and to be one of the most disaster-prone regions. After any disaster or emergency, children are exceptionally vulne
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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
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The Desert Flower
Save the Children has been working in the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya, to protect the well-being of children, especially those categorized as vulnerable. As populations streamed into the camps, Save the Children set up safe spaces to address the emergency
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Ukraine: Protecting Children affected by conflict
Twelve-year-old Victoria* fled her home in eastern Ukraine when her town was shelled. She now lives in Sloviansk and attends Save the Children’s Child Friendly Space (CFS). Victoria’s mother registered her in the CFS because the conflict had affected her
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Ukraine: Our work in conflict-affected communities
Since 2014, more than 5 million people have been affected by the conflict in Ukraine. 1.7 million are children. Save the Children is providing essential aid to children and families affected by the conflict. Rebuilding homes, providing cash transfers, and
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Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces
Child friendly spaces (CFS) have become a widely used approach to protect and provide psychosocial support to children in emergencies. However, little evidence documents their outcomes and impacts. Recognizing this, the Child Protection Working Group (CPW
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Psychological First Aid: A review of Save the Children's PFA initiatives in China
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a practical method for providing initial support to reduce stress for people in crisis situations. In recent years, Save the Children has helped to extend this approach specifically to children, with the aim of supporting
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Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Jordan Field Study Report
This evaluation is the fifth in a series of structured evaluations of CFS and was completed as part of three-year collaboration with World Vision and Columbia University. It was conducted with Syrian refugees in an urban setting in Zarqa, Jordan during th
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Consultation with Children in East Africa for the World Humanitarian Summit: Messages from children affected by emergencies
In the lead up to the first ever World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), May 2016, Save the Children and UNICEF carried out a consultation that sought the views of around 500 children, primarily aged between 7 and 14 years. The children, affected by conflict and
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How are We Helping Refugees?
Save the Children is on the ground in Lesvos, Greece, engaging in activities to provide services to refugee children. Child friendly spaces and child protection professionals are on hand to make sure that children receive the care that they need. Mother a
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Evaluation of UNICEF-supported Child-friendly Spaces in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) November 2013- November 2014
Child Frontiers was commissioned by UNICEF Philippines in late 2014 to evaluate the relevance, protective and restorative effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the child-friendly spaces (CFS) implemented as part of the emergency response to Typh
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Evaluating the Effectiveness of Child Friendly Spaces in IDP Camps in Eastern DRC: Goma Field Study Summary Report
Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs) are used by humanitarian agencies as a means to promote protection and psychosocial wellbeing for children in emergency settings. World Vision International together with Columbia University conducted a series of studies to in