Nurturing hope with children on the move

PORT-OF-SPAIN, 1 April 2025 - Children from migrant and vulnerable communities in Trinidad and Tobago face numerous challenges in accessing education, psychosocial support, and safe environments. Factors such as economic hardship, displacement, and social barriers hinder their development and well-being. In response, Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) have been established to provide safe, nurturing environments where children can learn, play, and receive support.

Since their initial implementation as part of an emergency response, Child Friendly Spaces have evolved into a more structured and sustainable model. To strengthen coordination and long-term impact, the Child Friendly Spaces Network (CFSN) was officially launched in 2022. The CFSN promotes a shift from ad hoc services to a nationwide system promoting child protection, psychosocial resilience, and community ownership.

In Trinidad and Tobago, these spaces offer essential support to children affected by migration, displacement, and socio-economic adversity. These physical spaces provide key services, including:

1. Early Identification and Referrals: Detecting and referring children at risk of abuse, violence, exploitation, neglect, and separation.
2. Psychosocial Support: Creating a safe space for play, emotional processing, stress relief, and peer interaction to build positive coping strategies.
3. Education, Culture and Language Support: Offering cultural activities, informal education, and English as a Second Language (ESL) to assist school integration, including pathways to accredited online programmes such as DAWERE.
4. Care for Child Development: Enhancing caregiver-child interactions, especially for children under five who lack access to early childhood services.
5. Life Skills and Development: Equipping children and adolescents with decision-making, communication, and community engagement skills.
6. Life-Saving Messages and Social Cohesion: Disseminating critical health, hygiene, and protection messages while fostering community ties.

Currently, the CFSN consists of 13 Child Friendly Spaces serving over 1,200 children. It brings together a diverse coalition of stakeholders - including local NGOs, faith-based organizations, and community initiatives - which collaborate to deliver integrated, intersectoral programmes for children and families.

As part of its ongoing efforts, the CFSN is preparing a national campaign in recognition of Child Abuse Awareness Month in April 2025. In partnership with UNICEF, a series of child-centered activities will be held across CFS locations, featuring puppetry, art, drama, and more. These activities aim to:

• Raise awareness of child abuse and exploitation
• Strengthen mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)
• Encourage play-based learning and engagement
• Promote child safeguarding, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, and awareness of the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

Through this collaborative approach, the Child Friendly Spaces Network empowers communities to build safer, more inclusive environments for every child. According to Matthew Batson, UNICEF’s CFS and MHPSS Coordinator:

“As we prepare to mark Child Abuse Awareness Month, we truly see the impact and the importance of safe, inclusive spaces, the power of community, and the need for a child-friendly world - for every child.”