Brazil: leisure activities for disadvantaged children
Street canyons lined with skyscrapers, multi-lane urban highways, few green spaces: In the metropolis of São Paulo, many children grow up in conditions that are not very child-friendly.
The lack of age-appropriate and safe play opportunities is a clear violation of the right to play enshrined in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The International Play Association (IPA) has set out to change this.
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The organization, which receives funding through the A Chance To Play program, runs a toy library. In this "Ludothek," children find a safe space where they can play, romp around, and be creative. Many families from the surrounding neighborhoods use the toy library. But IPA also brings play to the people: Regular "Play Days" are held in the neighborhoods, offering activities ranging from bouncy castles and obstacle courses to arts and crafts, thus raising parents' awareness of the importance of play in their children's development.
Furthermore, IPA also trains educators from youth centers or schools to become so-called "Play Workers," enabling them to use play as a targeted method in educational and social work. The training focuses on inclusive play methods for children with disabilities, for whom there are hardly any services available in Brazil.