Child Play International

Children everywhere need more than food to grow up as they should. They must also have a loving and safe environment in which to play and learn. They need emotional and intellectual enrichment as an essential supplement to basic survival if they are to grow into effective adults, able to make use of their innate abilities.

We help provide in developing communities some of the basic services that we like to take for granted for our own children - kindergartens, first-rate day care, play groups, drop-in centers, playrooms and playgrounds in communities, schools, hospitals, Institutions.

Parents instinctively want a better life for their children. But sometimes in conditions of overwork and hardship it is difficult for burdened adults to provide for their little ones what they themselves have never had, and have few resources to obtain. They may have to work long hours and leave their children all day. Some children lose the care of their parents altogether.

Cheerful environments for children should be provided everywhere as a matter of course, but very often they are not. Millions of children all over the world spend their days In gloomy places with no toys, no paper, no pencils,. no crayons - not even water or sand, which cost nothing. Often it seems that nobody has thought that children should do anything but eat and sleep. It is necessary to stimulate awareness of the need for something more than this kind of mind-destroying custodial care, and then help start good services.

Is play really such a serious matter, when there are still hungry children in the world?

Of course food and basic health care must come first. But if we provide only that, how can these children become happy and clever adults, able to take initiatives and improve their life?

Play is serious business for children; it is the way they learn to master their environment. If everything else is right in their lives, they will always find a way to play. But in conditions of poverty, illness or misfortune, they need some help. They don't need elaborate equipment, but they need the right atmosphere, encouragement, and at least a few simple materials.

Above all, they need affectionate and joyful adults to care for them when their parents can't.

We can initiate child care projects in developing communities, and find trained people to run them.

We can give funding and technical guidance to other groups or individuals prepared to start or enrich a practical play program for the benefit or deprived children.

We can emphasize the essential human element - finding and training people interested in this field, and involving parents.

Would you like to join our work, through your donation or your volunteer assistance? Your gift is tax-deductible. Administrative costs are minimal, and will be even less if you give us some of your time! Participate with us!