Summer should be a time of freedom, laughter, and play. But right now, lots of children aren't safe and exploring like they should be.
Save the Children’s safe spaces are often the only place where children impacted by conflict can feel calm, learn, make friends—and simply be children again. But right now, these lifelines are under threat.
In January, we were running 362 safe spaces across 18 countries. Due to rising costs and funding cuts, we’ve already had to close almost half. Without your urgent support, even more could disappear.
With your help, we can keep these spaces open—and provide a sanctuary to 200,000 children this year.
Behind that number are individual children. Children with favorite colors, unique laughs and big dreams. Children who deserve to feel safe.
How a safe space can change a child's life
In the midst of crisis, every child deserves more than just survival—they deserve safety and the chance to be a child again. Our safe spaces offer just that: a nurturing environment where children can listen to stories, access clean water, receive mental health support, and be cared for by trained staff who understand their needs.
As Sabine Copinga, Communications Adviser, wrote from Zaatari camp on the Syrian border:
“When we talk about the children affected by Syria’s crisis, we tend to talk about ‘refugees’ or ‘traumatised children’ in plural. But the fact is that there’s an individual child behind every refugee and every trauma. Each with his or her own name, face, character, dreams, wishes, sorrow, memories and loved ones. The goal of the child-friendly spaces that Save the Children is running is to bring back the individual child.”
This is our mission: to restore childhood, one safe space at a time, which is why we need your support today.
Below, you can immerse yourself in one of our safe spaces and find out some of the things that they offer.
Meet Tetiana*
Meet Tetiana* (2) at a Save the Children-supported Safe Space in Ukraine.
“When Tetiana* was born, it was one month after the war started and I had no idea what to do” says Yuliia*, cradling her youngest daughter. At just two years old, Tetiana has never known a world without war. Her first cries came between air raid sirens, as rockets flew overhead and her mother was rushed into a hospital corridor for safety.
The war in Ukraine has left deep marks on her children. "When Tetiana hears someone slamming the door next door, she says: ‘there’s an explosion, let’s go to the shelter!’". But there is one place where they can breathe a little easier.
At the local safe space, Anna*, Yuliia's oldest daughter, is able to develop her creativity, something she really enjoys. “She feels safer here than in our appartment,” Yuliia says. “It helps her to feel like herself, like a normal child in a country without war”. The centre offers more than just activities—it provides mental health support, helping with stress and anxiety, a sense of routine, and moments of joy.
explosion, let’s go to the shelter!’”
Instead of conflict holding her back, the local safe space allows Tetiana to be a child again - safe, happy, curious, and free.
Without your support, children like Tetiana* could lose their last safe space. But with your generosity, you can save that space.
*We've changed the names to keep them safe.
