Policy plan

2023 & 2024

Introduction “Play, sports, and creative activities are very important for a child’s development. Every child should be given the time and space to play. They have the right to relaxation, and they have the right to participate in sports, cultural, and artistic activities. The government should ensure that every child has equal opportunities in this regard. The government should also promote recreational, artistic, and cultural facilities for children.” (Article 31, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) Changing Stories is a foundation that focuses on Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Theatre makers, drama therapists, and artists work together with children who are refugees to create positive experiences through theatrical interventions. Changing Stories takes children briefly into a world of wonder and imagination where children are the creators and have control.

With the large influx of people seeking refuge in the Netherlands, Changing Stories started in 2016 as a theater project for parents and children in Dutch asylum centers. When reports emerged about the desperate situation of children in Greek refugee camps, Changing Stories decided to focus on where the need was greatest.

After implementing five projects in refugee camps on Lesbos and Samos, the Changing Stories Foundation was established at the end of 2019. The foundation initially chose to focus on Greece as a European foundation with a responsibility for the well-being of children within European borders.

Since 2020, access to camps in Greece has been restricted. This is partly due to the COVID-19 crisis, but mainly due to policy changes. The camps have become more closed fortresses where organizations have limited access. Additionally, the conflict in Ukraine has led to a significant increase in the number of displaced children in Europe. Therefore, the foundation’s initial focus has shifted to all displaced children in Europe, regardless of the context of a camp.

Since 2022, Changing Stories has been implementing projects not only in Greece but also in the Balkans and Calais. In the Balkan countries, many displaced children have been living in orphanages and slums for years. Moreover, countries like Romania and Moldova accommodate many people fleeing from neighboring Ukraine. In Calais, children live in makeshift huts, hoping for a better future in England, often after finding dead ends throughout Europe.

The foundation’s focus has expanded to include all displaced children within and at the borders of Europe. The foundation carries out five international projects per year and fifteen shorter projects or project days in Dutch asylum centers and emergency shelters. The foundation is also active in schools and the professional field, providing education and training.

Mission and Vision

In 1989, the United Nations adopted the “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.” Almost all countries in the world have signed this convention, including the Netherlands in 1995. The rights of refugee children in Europe are violated on numerous points of this convention on a daily basis, including the right to leisure, play, and recreation as described above.

In 2020, over 17,500 children arrived in Southern Europe as refugees, with the majority in Greece. The majority of these children traveled alone, over 12,000 of them.

In Europe, since World War II, we have lived with the realization of “Never Again.” This refers to the ruthless genocide of Jews and other minorities and the millions of Europeans who witnessed it helplessly.

These two observations motivate the foundation to take action against the great injustice inflicted upon children in Europe. Not directed against European states, but with a sense of personal responsibility. To make a difference and momentarily take children into a world of imagination and play where anything is possible.

Through short-term theatrical activities, Changing Stories aims to stimulate imagination and joy. Play and fun allow children to relax, stimulate their imagination, and can offer hope in a hopeless situation. Because “Imagination is central to recovery; without the inner imagination of an alternative future there is no place to go.” – Dr. Bessel van der Kolk.

Changing Stories also allows children to participate in art activities that promote their socio-emotional development. Research shows that children in refugee camps benefit from short interventions that focus on protective factors such as hope, increasing self-confidence, and the sense of belonging.

In addition, Changing Stories focuses on raising awareness about the living conditions of displaced children. Through educational projects (primary education, secondary education, and higher education) and training (professional practice), the power of theater and creativity in post-crisis situations is explained using the Changing Stories method. With this, the foundation hopes to inspire caregivers and future global citizens to use their talents to help the vulnerable in our society. This will hopefully contribute to the sustainability of socio-emotional and creative support for children in need.

Objectives

The Changing Stories Foundation has a dual purpose:

Creating moments of play, fun, and imagination with children and youth growing up in refugee camps. Changing Stories briefly takes these children on a creative journey, offering a moment to dream and be carefree children.
Organising awareness activities and inspiring children and adults in Europe. Creating awareness about the situation of children in refugee camps while simultaneously inspiring and motivating action.

Where the need is high

Changing Stories carries out projects both domestically and internationally in places where the need is high. To ensure this goal, we have established ten criteria to determine when a location meets this need. If at least 5 out of the following 10 criteria are present in the situation where children live, we consider it inhumane and indicative of a need; if 8 or more criteria are present, the need is high.

International:

– Lack of or limited basic amenities (running water, sanitation, shelter, food)

– Lack of or limited access to education

– Limited opportunities to participate or engage in sports, cultural, and artistic activities

– Forced displacement or eviction from living/sleeping places

– Forced detachment from their own socio-cultural context

– Unsafe context in the present or past, posing a real risk of chronic stress and/or psychotrauma

– Restrictive living conditions (lack of autonomy to leave the dwelling place)

– Restrictions on freedom of movement in general (e.g., lack of identification or inability to cross borders)

– Situations where parents/caregivers are absent or unable to provide safety and care for children

– Marginalization of the group to which children belong, resulting in a lack of support from institutions (such as justice or social engagement)

Domestic:

– Limited basic amenities (food, sanitation, privacy)