Create a Safe Space for Children and Youth

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PLAY CELEBRATION 

In a landmark decision aimed at promoting the fundamental rights of children worldwide, the United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution designating June 11th as the International Day of Play. 

Shaishav always promotes and innovates through non-competitive, non volent and Cooperative games that supports inclusivity, tolerance and respect towards one another. Balsena has existed for and is led by the children of urban slum communities of Bhavnagar city for the past 21 years. Through this platform, children voice their concerns and demands. 

On June 11th,  we organized Play sessions in different communities where Balsena works. Along with this, we also tried to reach children who get less opportunity to play. We went to two Children Home and Child Care Institutions to play with children there. On this day we reached over 333 children through these Play sessions.   

On June 16th we organized ‘Open for All - Play session’ in the public place. 300 children participated in this event. Mr. Nalin – ex member of GCERT committee was Chief Guest on the occasion. He spoke about the importance of play in lives of children, and encouraged children to write a postcard to GCERT board chair to give children alone hour of play time daily in the school. Mr. Pathik, a national player hailing from Bhavnagar, also motivated children. Ms. Umaben, a senior citizen athlete also spoke to children.  

Many exciting and enjoyable games are planned with children. They were divided into several groups, and the games were facilitated. At the end, children had snacks together and were given puzzles and a cloth bag to promote more sustainable practices.  

BALSENA CHILDREN FACILITATE INTERNATIONAL WEBINAR: 

A Global Webinar on the theme of IDOP was organized on this day. Eleven Balsena and Tarun Sena members shared their real time experience with play and how it has led to changes in their personal development. Some even shared how through play they leveraged change in their community. Balsena children who have been part of this process and now turned adults hosted and managed this interactive webinar. This webinar was hosted by CWC- Concerned for working Children organization, who lead the first children collective of India. It was attended by NGOs all around India, children representing their collectives, parents, teachers and others. NGOs who have successfully employed play as a tool to bring children together and that can lead to their holistic development. More than 250 people attended this webinar. 

The International Day of Play aims to raise awareness about the importance of play and to mobilize efforts to ensure that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or physical abilities, have access to play environments that foster their growth and well-being. 

By reclaiming play, we unlock human potential constrained by inequity and create just and peaceful societies where every child can thrive.   

TEAM TRAINING:  

When we work with children, we must continue to innovate and facilitate new activities with children, for this capacity building of the team is important. We facilitated training of the entire Shaishav team from both Bhavangar and Narmada. Child Rights in depth, life skills and learning science through science experiments were the major theme of this training.   

AATAPI SEWA FOUNDATION:  

Shaishav has long term partnership with Aataapi Sewa Foundation. On 27th and 28th June, Alpeshbhai and Ishaben of Shaishav facilitated training of Aatapi’s Balsaathis- facilitator on the topics of life skills. The Balsaathis were happy to learn new activities with children, but also reflect that life skills are not just for children, they are for everyone, and they can learn and implement them in theirlife as well.