Alcohol-free spaces for children in Greenland

In June and July Blue Cross Denmark together with key project partner Y’s Men, Region Denmark carried out the two scheduled research trips to and with the Blue Cross in Greenland. Over a period of almost 4 weeks, the specific local needs were examined and translated into plans and requirements for renovating the buildings in the six locations of the children’s centres. In the process the group also had opportunities to speak to politicians, authorities and civil society stakeholders. More and more we see appear the image of a beautiful and proud country with vast social problems. An example is the small town Aasiaat, slightly north of the polar circle where the sun doesn’t set at the moment. In the late evenings and during the endless nights large groups of children and youngsters gather in the harbor. Some of them steal and sail the small ships in the harbor, and they smoke marijuana and sniff glue. The police explained that they sometimes fetch some of these youngsters but that the problem is that they have nowhere to take them to. Their homes are either empty or the parents are under the influence of alcohol or drugs themselves. This is the primary reason that seven percent of the children in Greenland are in foster care outside of their own homes.

The group of travelers who have since started sharing experiences and information about the conditions in Greenland brought home a range of heart-quenching anecdotes. The fact that one out of three Greenlandic children grows up in a family with alcohol abuse issues and a high risk for psychological and social problems, including abuse, is the key motivator to help change things. In Greenland it is common to talk about the eldest girl in a group of siblings as ‘little mother’, indicating how common it is that children have to grow up way too fast – often as a consequence of parents drinking.

To create the high-impact and long term change which we are aiming for, the Blue Cross will soon be hiring a key person for this project! A link to a job description is expected as part of the next report from us. If you know of a Greenlandic-speaking therapist with a heart for children’s welfare, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We thank you very much for your support to build alcohol-free spaces for children in Greenland. Our mission to Greenland has shown: this project is very much needed!

Blue Cross Denmark and Greenland continue working together to establish counseling and support to children in families with alcohol abuse in Greenland. The main project sponsor is the Men’s Y International, Region Denmark.

In late June, a group of project ambassadors from Blue Cross Denmark, Blue Cross Greenland and the Men’s Y International will travel to Greenland to learn more about specific local needs and to examine the buildings in the six proposed location for the children’s centres. 

 "It's Blue Cross of Greenland who know the children best and can talk to the children and their parents. But when all Blue Cross work in Greenland is run by volunteers, the association needs training and support," said the General Secretary of BC Denmark, Christian Bjerre, which BC Denmark is able to offer given its expertise working with children.

Every three Greenlandic child growing up in a family with alcohol abuse and a high risk for psychological and social problems, including abuse. The suicide rate among 10-14-year-olds in Greenland alarmingly high. Blue Cross Denmark's sister organization in Greenland has operations in nearly 30 cities offering activities for children.

Collaboration between Blue Cross member organizations around the world is one of the strengths of our network – knowledge and skills transfer, financial and volunteer support and regular communication goes a long way in promoting organizational development within the Blue Cross family.

We thank you very much for your support our efforts to build alcohol-free spaces for children in Greenland and look frwoard to providing you with more updates in the next report!