Safe Space, Italy

Ventimiglia was an important transit point for people attempting to continue their journeys into France. Children and young people often arrived after long and difficult journeys, with limited access to safe, age-appropriate spaces where they could rest, spend time with others and receive support.

RYS created a temporary safe space where children could take part in informal activities, games and group sessions in a more welcoming and protected environment. The project offered moments of routine, connection and relief within a context shaped by uncertainty and constant movement.

Although the project was brief, it extended RYS’s early model beyond Calais: creating trusted spaces around children on the move and responding practically to the needs present in each location.