Safe Spaces

Lebanon 2006

Objectives•Understand how Safe Spaces are

implemented in both areas of conflict and development

•Apply the concepts of establishing an Emergency Safe Space

Why do we have them ?

Safe Spaces are areas which are purposefully established to support

children’s physical safety, as well as their ability to express themselves, play

and learn.

Safe Spaces can provide:• Physical protection• Psychosocial support• Educational support• Life-saving skills• A space for new information and thinking

(adolescent education, peace education) • Alternative means of addressing issues

not in the formal school curriculum – UXO

Finding a Safe Space:• A designated Space clear from mines

and dangerous traffic etc. • A place where parents and children

would feel comfortable.• Agreement with the owners of the

land/ municipality to use the space• Sanitation, hand washing facilities

and drinking water could be made available

Recruiting Volunteers• Ratio 1 Volunteer per 25 Children• Identify existing community volunteers and

try to use them to work with children• Find people who are interested in working

with children or preferably have experience of working with children. Eg. Mothers, young people or teachers.

• A commitment to work with the groups on a regular basis over the next 2 months for a minimum

• The communities will be comfortable for the children to be supervised by these volunteers

Structuring Play Activities

There are a number of reasons why structuring activities in an SPA are

important:• To ensure fair distribution of toys and sports

equipment

• To ensure children are being active in the different types of play

• To improve the development of children

• To bring back some resemblance of life before the emergency when children used to attend school regularly and have very structured lives, to bring back some normalcy.

• To help children gain some control over their life

Things to consider when organizing activities:

• Children develop best if given a chance to use all 5 types of play: Creative; Imaginative; physical; communicative; manipulative, for younger children it is essential. Try to mix the types of activities e.g. alternating passive and active, and indoor and outdoor

• Children need not only structure but free time also where they can express themselves exactly how they want to.

• Children and parents opinions need to be included when structuring activities, they know themselves/their children what they enjoy most, at what times are most suitable and what other commitments they have.

• Age specific activities and schedules, allowing time for younger and older children to participate.

Weekly Activity PlanVolunteers should plan a week of activities at a time,

so that the children are prepared for the next events.

This should include:

• What days the safe spaces will operate• Times of sessions• Ages of children who should attend• Types of activities that will happen• Any other information on changes to

location or additional volunteers who may be needed.

Working with children

Remember to:• Be sensitive• Listen to the child about how he/she

wants things done• Do not say “you poor little thing” –

don’t patronise a child• Children should be allowed to talk to

who they want to• Be patient

Monitoring• Identify monitors from people with

existing experience with children (teachers, coaches, scout leaders)

• Continue training for volunteers

• Establish a monitoring system where each center is visited a minimum of once a week depending on transport.

Quote from a child

Save the Children established their first Safe Space in the Bakaa, where one

child at 8pm wanted to know.“ Are you really going to open the gates

for us to play tomorrow?”

This really is an important intervention that builds unity, friendship, and is so

needed within our communities of Lebanon.

ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO PLAY

THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES

Contact

Please contact Save the Children for more

information on how to establish a Safe Space and any additional assistance.