PESHAWAR: The Project Management Unit (PMU) Child Protection, under the Directorate of Social Welfare, Special Education, Women Empowerment Department–Merged Areas, has established a “Safe Space for Every Child” in Peshawar to enhance child protection and well-being of vulnerable children.
The facility was inaugurated at Tajabad near Board Bazaar here on Tuesday by Jennifer Melton, Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Pakistan, along with Bushra Ajmal, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Officials present on the occasion included Program Manager Amjid Mehmood, Kainat Farooqi and project staff of the PMU.
The initiative is being supported by UNICEF as part of preventive interventions in Kurram, Khyber, South Waziristan and Peshawar.
The safe space will provide a range of services for street children and children on the move, including life skills-based education, “I Support My Friend” sessions, Talli module activities, recreational opportunities, and child online protection awareness.
Dedicated teams of psychologists will also provide psychosocial support to children in need.
The facility has been designed as a focal point for children vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and neglect, including children working on streets, refugee children, children engaged in begging, displaced children, orphaned children, and girls whose mothers work as domestic workers.
Located in an area inhabited by marginalized communities, including refugee and poverty-affected families, the safe space aims to provide children with a secure and nurturing environment through structured engagement, recreational activities and psychosocial care.
The initiative will also help equip children with essential protection skills and facilitate referrals to relevant service providers for further support.
Speaking at the inauguration, UNICEF representatives appreciated the efforts of the department and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening support for vulnerable children.
Special emphasis was placed on expanding adolescent-led initiatives to empower young people as agents of change and promote a safer and more protective environment for every child.–APP
