With support from RYS, ECPAT-France has been delivering its PROTECT project in Calais since August 2021. The project furthers the previous work of RYS and provides social, material and legal support to unaccompanied children on the street in Calais, and makes referrals to other specialist services. To date the project has supported over 500 children.

Outreach maurades are organized to the informal living sites of people on the move, including children. This approach aims at identifying children and supporting them through access to the services they need, whilst psychosocial activities are also organised to create a break from their daily lives and the challenges of living on the street.

Through various activities (cooking, film-debates, meditation, sports, painting), organised by social, intercultural mediators and the psychologist, these activities provide emotional support for young people in confidential and secure spaces; spaces in which they can also develop their own self-protective mechanisms.

One child, from Eritrea, explained “the activities allow me not to think about the try (attempt to cross towards United Kingdom), to forget for a few hours our life and our worries. I didn’t know there were other young people like me here”, whilst another, from Sudan said “the first time I went there just to eat. Then we started getting closer. The activities allow us to be outside of our daily life, which is the arrival of the police, evictions, looking for food, going to the toilet, and nothing. There are many words and things that are in my heart.”

7 years after RYS was established, to support children living the ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais, it is clear that support for children on the move is just as needed as ever. To support the project, donate here.