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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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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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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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"Through My Eyes" Stories: Photography workshops in child-friendly community spaces in Ecuador
Children and adolescents are a population segment that is vulnerable by nature. But after a natural event, such as the earthquake that hit Ecuador on April 16, 2016, with its epicentre on the Ecuadorian coast– this vulnerability was heightened. Following
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Endbericht Pilotprojekt Kinderfreundliche Räume im Empfangs- und Verfahrenszentrum (EVZ) Kreuzlingen
Between September 2016 and August 2017, Save the Children Switzerland together with the Swiss Migration Agency, ran the pilot project "Child-friendly Spaces" at the Reception and Processing Center (EVZ) in Kreuzlingen. The pilot project is based on the re
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Psychosocial Support for Children and Adolescents in Emergency Settings- Sudan: Minimum level of intervention skills for facilitators
This manual is designed to assist facilitators and service providers in applying the minimum level of criteria for psychosocial support (PSS) programs in Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS). We recommend that trainers use this manual to better understand psycholo
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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: 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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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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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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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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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