Cankarjev dom becomes a UNICEF Safe Spot

30 January 2025

Today, Cankarjev dom has become a UNICEF Safe Spot, a place where children and minors in distress can find shelter, assistance or advice. 

UNICEF's Safe Spots are public places where children and minors in distress can find shelter and assistance. This allows them to seek help anonymously, providing a place of refuge if they are experiencing something unpleasant, a safe haven where they can talk about their problems or simply resolve a doubt. Help is offered by employees trained to identify the type of distress and make the right judgement on whom to call. At 15 Cankarjev dom, we have trained fifteen employees to offer assistance to children and minors. We also provide a special safe space where children can find refuge from unpleasant street situations, talk about their problems and wait for their guardians or competent institutions to provide them with additional assistance and protection.

Cankarjev dom thus joins the family of more than 1100 UNICEF Safe Spots in 120 locations across Slovenia. UNICEF Safe points are appropriately marked: a laughing house sticker placed next to an entrance in a prominent position. For more safe spots please visit www.varnetocke.si. 

Last school year hundreds of children and minors turned to UNICEF Safe Spots for help in various cases ranging from lost keys, being lost or waiting for a ride home, needing help with homework, a glass of water, a band-aid... Some just needed a kind word, a piece of advice or some encouragement. Cases of serious trouble were also recorded, including peer violence, domestic violence and abuse, and mental health problems.