While kids are not usually encouraged to play in the street, A Chance to Play Southern Africa (ACTPSA) closed some roads off for a day of play in Johannesburg.
“Today children don’t get the opportunity to play as much and, therefore, don’t get the chance to socialise and understand the behaviour of other children,” said Charity Rasmen, project administrator of ACTPSA.
The organisation closed off the streets of Newtown in order to allow the children from various areas around the city and from a number of organisations, the chance to play and develop in a way that has been hindered by the introduction of technology to the lives of modern-day children.
On the day, there were multiple stations set up where children could engage in a number of developmental games and activities with their friends, children that they’ve never met before, and even their parents who were encouraged to join in on the fun. Some of the stations were set up for soccer, skipping, hopscotch, drawing, dancing and even a ball pit for the younger ones.
Not only does play allow for the social, physical and mental development of a child, but it also releases endorphins which contribute to making them happy and mentally healthy human beings; in addition to helping them with hand-eye co-ordination, motor skills and teaching them invaluable lessons about sportsmanship and healthy competition.
ACTPSA was only able to make this exciting day possible with the help of their partners, Makhulong A Matala, a community development subsidiary of Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC), and terre des hommes Deutschland, which assisted with project funding.
Terre des hommes (land of men) is an international organisation that develops and implements projects designed to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged children. Makhulong A Matala is an initiative which aims to build healthy communities through tenant engagement, community spirit building, training and education, and neighbourhood development programmes in and around JHC buildings.
Details: www.a-chance-to-play.org.za
