Children at Kvindehjemmet

Children at Kvindehjemmet
A stay at a women’s shelter can be a help for you and your children.

Children can sense what is going on

Many women will do everything they can to keep their children from seeing or hearing the violence. But children are very good at sensing that something is wrong. Even when they are little. And they have often seen, heard or sensed more than you think. By saying no to violence, you can help your child. By moving to a women’s shelter, for instance.

“Before we got here, I was worried about whether I could take care of my children in a place like that. But when we arrived, I was surprised that the house and our room was bright and friendly. The people who were living here were completely normal people.”

Mother with two children

This is what children are saying

Tegning af Kvindehjemmets facade med dreng udenfor

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“In the beginning, I really only wanted to go home. But the longer I stayed here, the more I understood that what you are used to is not always best for you.”

Girl, 17 years

“You have your own bed and room, and no one can just go in there and that is great.”

Girl, 6 years

“When I got here, I was mad at my mom and dad because they were fighting every day. I was a little sad. It made me feel good to be in Børnetræet.”

Boy, 13 years

“If you are sad, you can talk about it with Børnetræet. That helps.”

Girl, 5 years

“Before we moved to the shelter, I had to take care of my mom. That was my job.”

Boy, 11 years

“When my mom said we had to move to Kvindehjemmet, I felt very bad about it. I did not know what ‘Kvindehjemmet’ meant. I do now, and I am very happy that I can stay here.”

Girl, 14 years

Children need to talk about it

Violence has a strong effect on children. Children who are living with violence are often more worried than other children and may have many different reactions. Some respond by becoming easily afraid, sad, or introverted. Others respond by becoming more unruly and angry, and by acting out. Many children believe that the violence is their fault.

At Kvindehjemmet, you and your children will get the help you need to talk about why you are at a women’s shelter. If you move in without your children, you will get help to figure out how to be there for them even though they are not living with you.

FACTS

Børnetræet is our name for Kvindehjemmet’s program for mothers and children. Since 1996 we have developed methods to talk about violence in a language that is suitable for children. The aim is to reduce the effects of violence on the individual child. Børnetræet will always work closely with the child’s mother. There are three counsellors employed in Børnetræet.

The work of Børnetræet in pictures
Børnetræet has a special room where many of the talks with mothers and children take place.
Børnetræet has a special room where many of the talks with mothers and children take place.
In Børnetræet, children can talk about why they are at a women’s shelter. The counsellors use different tools during the talks. For example, a tapestry like this one in the picture.
This one is an owl mother with her two children. The owl father is also there, a little distance away.
Some children need a teddy bear to help them while they are living at Kvindehjemmet. “I love the teddy bear I got at Kvindehjemmet. It lies on the bed and it makes me feel happy when I look at it,” says a 13-year old boy.
In Børnetræet, you are not just talking. You can also play.
Or draw.
“You need to know, as an adult, that, although children do not say so much, they have eyes. And they see really good -- better than you think,” an 11-year old boy wrote in the book, where children can share their thoughts with other children.
Every child gets a backpack from Mary Fonden with toys and other things, depending on the age of the child. The backpack is a way to show that all children have the right to a life without violence.

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Short film about living at a women’s shelter, told by children

The film is produced by Mikrofilm AS in collaboration with a Norwegian women’s shelter in Salten. Instructor: Robin Jensen. For more information, look here.

Contact us – 24/7. Together we can figure out what is best for you and your children.

This post is also available in: Danish

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Children at Kvindehjemmet

Children can sense what is going on

Mother with two children

This is what children are saying

Girl, 17 years

Girl, 6 years

Boy, 13 years

Girl, 5 years

Boy, 11 years

Girl, 14 years

Children need to talk about it

FACTS

The work of Børnetræet in pictures

Short film about living at a women’s shelter, told by children

Contact us – 24/7. Together we can figure out what is best for you and your children.

Contact us

We are here

Find us

About us

Support us

Children at Kvindehjemmet

Children can sense what is going on

Mother with two children

This is what children are saying

Girl, 17 years

Girl, 6 years

Boy, 13 years

Girl, 5 years

Boy, 11 years

Girl, 14 years

Children need to talk about it

FACTS

The work of Børnetræet in pictures

Short film about living at a women’s shelter, told by children

Contact us – 24/7. Together we can figure out what is best for you and your children.

Contact us

We are here

Find us

About us

Support us

You can call us 24/7

at phone number 35 81 98 45