In Burkina Faso, an estimated 1.7 million people will require protection by the end of this year, and 3.5 million will need humanitarian assistance. There is a severe humanitarian crisis in the country due to insecurity, which prevents access to basic social services. Plan International Ireland received a €16,000 grant from ElectricAid to help build two secure, inclusive, and quality child friendly spaces where children can learn in a safe environment.
The two child friendly spaces were built at Pissila, a city in the Centre-North region of Burkina Faso. 863 children (510 boys and 351 girls) who frequently visit the centers were directly impacted by the build. Children aged 3 to 17 can develop, play, learn, and build resilience in the programmes’s safe and stimulating environment. These child friendly spaces give kids a brief but safe setting during times of great adversity where they can regain some semblance of normalcy and support for their well-being. Additionally, the centers give parents children-free time so they can gather food and water, reconstruct damaged homes, or discover new sources of income. Child friendly spaces offer secure settings for children to be protected from abuse, exploitation, and violence in response to displacement and/or conflict. Sports, games, music, educational activities, and other events have been held to support children’s psychosocial wellbeing. Child Friendly Spaces act as a hub for interacting with parents and enlisting the help of other community resources to improve regional systems for assisting, safeguarding, and caring for children.
To deliver this project, Plan International had to work in close partnership with various stakeholders including government bodies and other community actors to make sure that real change stemmed from the initiative. Every building used durable materials and was completed by local businesses utilizing tried-and-tested methods. Through the project, Plan International used a community-based strategy, as a result, members of the local community including parents, guardians, community leaders, teachers, and children were all consulted and participated in the project as both right-holders and active stakeholders. The success and sustainability of the project have been secured by this strategy.
“Through these child friendly spaces, children have been able to develop, learn, play, and strengthen their resilience. Parents have also been encouraged to become active participants, share information, contribute ideas, and enhance their own self-confidence as caregivers. When basic human needs are met, this allows for higher quality education and learning, allowing children to achieve their greatest potential”
ElectricAid would not be able to support charities like Plan International without the assistance and support of our generous and kind donors. We were also able to accomplish one of the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations, which was goal 4 – Quality education, thanks to the support for this initiative.
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