Starting Up Child Centered Spaces in Emergencies: A Field Manual

In trainings, it is useful to intermix seminar or workshop discussions with appliedwork in which participants actually try out their new knowledge and skills, with subsequentdebriefing to take stock of what was learned and to correct any errors.Following are three models that have worked successfully in different contexts:Field Examples: TrainingEast Timor 1999: During a one-week period, training was conducted in themorning, with a lunch provided afterward. In the afternoon, the animatorsconducted activities with groups of children, with the CCF child protectionteam observing. Debriefing and feedback on activities and problems werepart of the training the following day.East Timor 2006: Three days of training were conducted during a one-weekperiod. Two days of training were followed by two days of CCS implementation,and then a final day of training.India 2004: Training occurred over a two-day period, with two sessions perday. The training day lasted approximately five hours, with a lunch break inthe middle.TopicsThe following topics are important to cover in the initial training with animators:• The purpose of a CCS• Child protection issues in an emergency• Factors that contribute to children’s well-being• Activities to use in the CCS for different age groups and for girls and boys• Training in basic first aid• Do’s and Don’ts of the CCS• Roles and responsibilities• Code of conductFollowing are some key points for the above topics. (See Annex 8 for a sampletraining module from India that focuses on psychosocial needs and impacts; itcan be adapted to fit the local context for this initial training.)The Purpose of CCSs• CCSs provide a place where children can be safe and secure, and avoidrisks in the local environment.• CCSs help reduce the negative psychosocial impacts of conflicts anddisasters.32