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!