By Tania Skae | Executive Director
The Flying Seagull Project works internationally to fill the gap in play provision that is sorely lacking for children who are displaced by war and violence, for those who are abandoned, isolated, with disabilities, in hospitals, hospices and institutions. Fleeing their homes and living in temporary accommodation, children are lacking in social and developmental skills, but also face premature adulthood without any joy and happiness in their young lives. By facilitating music, circus, play, and organised creative activities for children the Flying Seagulls supports children experiencing different stages of trauma and stress by offering enjoyable and energetic experiences for as many children as possible.
The Flying Seagull Project has to date met half a million children; the Platinum Pledge is to reach half a million more.
We have recently delivered a tour across Europe, starting in the Netherlands, where we visited housing provided for people seeking asylum, for refugees from Ukraine and schools where children learn Dutch as a non-native language. Each of these locations we visited once for one and a half hour. The smallest session counted 15 participants, the biggest 110 participants. With the vast majority being between 30 and 60. In Belgium we met 823 children in two weeks, visiting places where displaced children are in temporary accommodation, that are not fit places for people to live long term and definitely not fit places for children to grow up. In almost every session we saw children that had additional needs through having disabilities and/or through trauma.
In all our sessions we see an increase in confidence and communication from participants. Where they were shy, elective mute, aggressive, angry or removed at the start, we see increase in engagement with team, through small gestures like eye contact or stepping forward to take part, through to obvious shows of communication- copying songs, speaking with others in the group for the first time, gaining trust in adults. And we see confidence growing- trying new circus skills, persevering until they master a trick or song or game.
"It's very important what you are doing for the kids, you are bringing just freedom to the kids, to feel that they are just children, to do/ have what they want, to relax how they want, they can be funny, they can look stupid and it doesn't matter, just enjoy what you want and it doesn't matter. It's time for a child where they can be free to breathe. It's very important for their emotional well being." From one of our Partners.
"These Ukranian children have so much fear, so much depression, so this is rehabilitation for them. Thank you so much. They lost their fathers they lost their families, their houses and we can't go there anymore, so now this is Ukraine and it's so good that you came. It's great. This is the most treasure you can give them. And this is the most important in our life. The most important thing is our families, our children and our love." From one Partner organisation.
Thanks to your support, we have been able to reach hundreds more children across UK, Europe and Middle East who deserve to feel happy and access their basic right to play and a childhood. Do follow us to find out more about our Autumn projects! Thank you.
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