What is Shadow World ?
Shadow World, Varjomaailma in Finnish, is the first serious attempt to reach children and young people suffering from parental substance misuse, and to provide them with information, support and means to deal with the difficult life situation.
Why?
The starting point of the Shadow World is the observation that about one out of ten children suffer from parental substance misuse in Finland.
Unstable, quarrelsome and stressful family environment increases a child’s risk for social exclusion, mental health problems and future substance misuse. These children are very difficult to reach due to their families’ tendency to avoid attention and interventions by authorities.
How?
The innovative use of information and communication technology has allowed for approaching the target group directly, penetrating the curtain of silence, which is maintained by shame and families’ internal social control.
The two basic methods used to reach children are a comic book and this interactive website, both utilizing a narrative approach and a manga-style appearance. In addition to the story, the comic contains links to the website and information on how and where to seek help. On the website child can share his or her own story anonymously, either by writing or by creating a comic strip with an application specifically developed for the purpose.
The comic book was sent through schools to about 70.000 5th and 6th graders, 11 to 13 year-olds, in Spring 2008. A media campaign was targeted to primary high school pupils, 13 to 15 year-olds.
The comic is available in electronic form in English from here.
by Whom?
The comic book was produced and distributed with a funding from Finland's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
The development of the Shadow World concept continues within the Fragile Childhood activity of A-Clinic Foundation, which was started in 1986 and has been established as a well-known form of activity in Finland.
Its goal is to help children suffering from parental alcohol misuse. The programme works on three levels: (1) equipping professionals and (2) activating the civil society as well as (3) providing children with direct help through new methods.
With Whom?
The project has brought together three major expert organisations, which have contributed with their expertise and on their part secured both the quality and the effectiveness of the project.
A-Clinic Foundation has more than 50 years of experience in treating addicted persons and providing support to their close people. The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare has extensive experience with promoting child welfare and working with schools and young people. Life Tastes Better without Drugs is a pioneering organisation on the field of applying new technologies in substance misuse prevention.
What's next?
With funding from the Finnish Slottery Association we are able to take the web service to a more interactive direction, which has been the wish coming from the Shadow World users. Setting up a message board will enable not only peer-support among the children but also starting up closed web discussion groups, which will be counselled by professional helpers.
If You want to get more information?
Please contact Project coordinator, Janne Takala, janne.takala[at]a-klinikka.fi
