DANGmusings

In celebration of children’s rights to play and education, UNICEF collaborates with Creative Kids Studio’s 20th Anniversary this month to highlight traditional Filipino games and children’s art. Dubbed Laro, the event will feature Community Art, an open art activity on 12-30 May at the Activity Center of Alabang Town Center where children’s art works will be on sale to the public.

Creative Kids Studio will raise funds to support UNICEF’s work in promoting education and play for Filipino children.

“Laro is an advocacy campaign bringing children back to the outdoors through play. Using their artistic talents, it showcases Filipino games interpreted through different art and musical forms to inspire the enrichment of children through play,” says Bambi Mañosa, founder and chief curator of the studio.

Apart from the Community Art sale, Laro will feature Paint it Forward, a display of children’s art work to the public (12-24 May); Tara, Laro!, where kids can play traditional Filipino street games (16-17 May); and a weekend of Interactive Storytelling on Filipino children’s literature (23-24 May). The festival will culminate with the Laro Fashion Show on 30 May, showcasing children’s designs inspired by indigenous fabrics. All events are open to the public at the Activity Center of Alabang Town Center.

“Play is crucial in shaping a child’s future success, a powerful educational and development tool. The earlier we start with enabling children to play, the better impact it can have on their physical and cognitive development. That’s why we are very grateful to Tukod Foundation and the Creative Kids Studio for promoting the importance of play. It is energising to see Creative Kids alumni support the most vulnerable Filipino children through UNICEF’s work. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing children helping other children,” says UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander.

UNICEF supports the standard training of Day Care Workers, addressing children’s need for extraordinary amount of play and exploration to learn. This has recently been rolled out to Day Care Workers in Bicol and ARMM; Zamboanga del Norte, North Cotabato and Saranggani; and in Davao and Cotabato Cities. This year the Training of Trainers will be rolled out the programme for all day care workers in Zamboanga City.

UNICEF also supports the Day Care initiatives to deepen child development principles and enhance early childhood care and development (ECCD) programmes responsive to 3-4 year olds. It also supports the DSWD in its development of “Play and Learn with three- and four-year olds in ECCD Programs: a Curriculum Activity Guide” for ECCD service providers working with children aged 3-4 in child development centers.

In support of Tukod Foundation, Laro will also build a children’s playground for the resettlement community of Calauan, Laguna, for informal settlers and evacuees of natural disasters like Ondoy (2009) and Yolanda (2013). “The resettlement community in Calauan is no stranger to sadness and hopelessness. On top of providing employment through livelihood programmes, we can help the community to uplift their spirits. By providing them a playground, they will be able to exercise their right to play and to live a happy and hopeful life,” Mañosa added.

To find out more about the event, contact Mañosa at 0915 882 4220 or info.tukod@gmail.com; or follow Creative Kids Studio on Facebook at /CreativeKidsPH and on Instagram at /kidsforkids.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Please visit UNICEF Philippines at http://www.unicef.ph or follow us on Facebook at /unicefphilippines and on Twitter at /unicefphils.

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