This project is a comprehensive system, and I often find myself reflecting on how best to explain that it’s more than just a charming space for children. The bus, with its fairy-tale design, sends a clear message of respect for childhood. It’s fun and inviting, but that’s just the surface. Describing it as a mobile kindergarten doesn’t quite capture its essence.
One of its core purposes is to equip adults with the tools and knowledge to support children effectively. This, I believe, is the aspect that requires further elaboration.
Fun Academy On Wheels transforms a bus into an interactive educational hub, merging creativity, play, and learning to address children’s emotional and social needs.
A powerful message conveyed to the children is that they are deeply cared for, and their future is believed in. The adults are there for them, committed to providing not only the best possible education but also supporting their overall well-being. By doing so, they help the child feel valued, instilling a sense that their future holds great importance. This nurturing environment assures the child that they matter, fostering confidence and hope for the road ahead.
The concept of Fun Academy on Wheels offers psychosocial support by creating safe spaces for children to express emotions, cope with trauma, and build resilience. The project provides adults, teachers, with practical tools and guidance, such as training support, toys, learning materials, books, board games, music, and apps, to support children’s emotional development.
It also offers parents, and community members with access to instructions in form of advice via the staff members and brochures, the worry booklet and parent app, and inspiration on low entry physical activity.
The bus functions as a hybrid model, offering onsite activities and remote access, ensuring educational and emotional support reaches even remote or damaged areas.
A key element of the concept is creating trust by ensuring professionals understand and respond to local contexts. The project adapts to community needs while providing professional development for educators and practical guidance for parents and volunteers, supporting a child’s sense of normalcy, stability, and hope.
The bus also serves as a digital hub, offering remote support to areas with limited access to digital resources, ensuring continuous guidance and learning opportunities.
This is what the concept is created for. But reality will show us which elements are needed in the actual context of war. The needs will most likely differ from location to location. This is where we all need to be sensitive. This is where we learn.
Thank you to all the adults who relentlessly work to offer children a safer childhood, hope and a future.
For more details about the concept, you can read through the FAQ section and links provided on this website. We will keep you updated on future developments and concrete user-case experiences of the bus and staff, so do come back for more information later.
Sanna Lukander, Fun Learning Ambassador