Cagayan de Oro City, 22 Dec 2011 – Six days after Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong) brought massive floods in Northern Mindanao, World Vision launches its first Child Friendly Space (CFS) in the evacuation area situated in Macasandig Tennis Court, Cagayan de Oro City.

The CFS, designed as a five-day module, will give the children who experienced distress from the disaster an opportunity and time to play, interact with other children, and be listened to. “This is very timely because Christmas is approaching. We want to give joy and hope to these children,” Dr. Yvonne Duque, World Vision Child well-being manager explains while the kids were singing Christmas songs behind her.

World Vision is on the ground in CDO to help the children cope with the disaster brought on by Tropical Storm Sendong by estabilishing Child Friendly Spaces in evacutation centers. Send help now!

One of the child survivors, 11 year old boy Richard, shares about his fears and tells his story through drawings.   “I fear flooding because it took away our house including my school stuffs,” explains Richard. Together with the other children in the school, they sang songs, played with toys, and blew bubbles.

 “Younger children are easier to respond because they have built-in awareness. It’s like a see-saw. If they’re in distressed situation, there’s a major change but if you’re able to reinforce their coping mechanism, they get back on their feet easily,” Dr. Duque illustrates.

Richard also felt at ease when World Vision facilitators and volunteers were leading action songs. The bad experiences brought by the flashflood were washed away and replaced by hope after he talked with other children affected by the flood. He enjoyed learning new songs and dances. “We were simply having fun,” he approves.

The CFS provides the kids an environment of of safety, structure, and continuity amidst the overwhelming experiences especially during a time of a calamity or crisis like the flooding.

^{At a Child Friendly Space, children are encouraged to express their feelings, thoughts and experiences especially after Tropical Storm Sendong affected their homes, claimed their loved ones and displaced them.} Send help now! 

"I was so inspired to be able to bring back the smiles of the children. It is a very touching experience to see their eyes sparkle as they play and blow bubbles after all they have gone through,” Chalice Avarientos, CFS facilitator amused by the positive reception of the children.

In one activity, the children wrote or draw their hopes and prayers. Richard wrote that he wants to have their house rebuilt very soon.  He also prays, “I hope the flood will never happen again. And I pray that we’ll have Noche Buena (Christmas eve dinner) this Christmas.”

As the CFS activity ended with children looking forward in the next four days.  Richard eagerly asks the volunteer facilitator, “Kuya (big brother), what time will you be back tomorrow?”

World Vision plans to set-up three more CFS in other evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, as it targets to reach at least 2, 000 child survivors. Send help now!