Play time starts now
RANDBURG - The Randburg Towers hosted a play conference, held to discuss the right children have to play.
Terre des hommes non-profit association which looks after children who have become victims of war and violence , in partnership with Cotlands and members of A Chance to Play Southern Africa coalition (ACTP-SA), hosted their first play conference for Southern Africa from 12 May to 15 May at the Randburg Towers.
Government officials from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa were present and engaged in a panel discussion to assess and discuss challenges and solutions to protecting children through play initiatives in their respective countries.
“ Cotlands, a non-profit organisation offers integrated early childhood development programmes that provide care, support and development opportunities to vulnerable young children and their families. It is thus our role to advocate for children’s right to play, we are delighted to have organised the conference which would result in an advocacy plan for play in Southern Africa,” said Cotlands media relations manager Lois Moodley.
During the conference, the role of play against the socio-economic background of Southern Africa, the consequences of not providing children with adequate play opportunities and the impact this will have on the cycle of poverty were discussed.
At the media briefing on 15 May, Lucy Thornton, acting manager at A Chance to play programme, addressed promoting children’s development through play, the relevance of the community’s obligation to protect children’s right to play, and benefits of playing.
“The overall objective of the conference was to increase the understanding and evidence of the importance of playing and address different strategies to promote safe and stimulating playing methods as an essential right towards the holistic development of children,” concluded Moodley.
Details: Cotlands Communications manager Lois Moodley 011 683 7201
