Films for children who come to crisis centers/shelters in Norway

Because of violence and abuse between 1800 and 2000 children are forced to flee  to a crisis center in Norway every year. These children need a simple and understandable explanation of their situation. Based on The United... [ view full abstract ]

Because of violence and abuse between 1800 and 2000 children are forced to flee  to a crisis center in Norway every year. These children need a simple and understandable explanation of their situation. Based on The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) underlining children's right to participate and to receive information, and also Norwegian studies that presents a lack on this area  - we decided to give children information in a manner that is especially adapted to children's needs.The Crisis Center in Salten (Bodø, in the Northern part of Norway) have,in cooperation with Save the Children, created two animated films that will give newly arrived children in shelters information and understanding of what a shelter is. From 1992 to 2015-  43 676 children stayed at a shelter in Norway. These children had to flee from their homes because of  unsafe conditions.Studies and experience shows that children who come to the shelter needs straightforward information and explanations of what is happening. In the acute situation, it is not easy to capture all of the information, and therefore it is important that the information may be repeated. We made two films: 1. "The safe house"(Children who have lived at the shelter tell about their experiences). 2. "The Bird House"(A short information film about the shelter). The films are made by Microfilm, with support from Save the Children and financed by the ExtraFoundation, Ministry of Justice and Public Security and The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs. The films are primarily for the children, but the parents of the children staying at the shelter will also benefit from the films, like the staff at the shelters. The films can be used in guidance, instruction and in cooperation with other parts of the support system.