In celebration of the National Children’s Month, Play It Forward and their partners – play champions – came up with different ways of participating in what was dubbed as the Play Advocacy Week–a week-long campaign spearheaded by Unilab Foundation’s therapeutic play program for children in vulnerable areas.

The program, set on November 18-24, is founded on the belief that every child has the right to play, and that play is essential in the mental health and holistic development of children. With more than 30 partners from the government, corporate companies, the academe, and the healthcare sector, Play It Forward wants to reach as many people as possible in order to make play happen.

Play champions from the Philippine Heart Center, WWF-Philippines, Bantay Bata 163 and Vico’s Artism will hold their own play activities during the week while Philippine Pediatrics Society and A Child’s D.R.E.A.M. Foundation are slated to champion play through social media campaigns.

Ayala Malls-Solenad will also put forth giant art installations that feature traditional Filipino games, in line with Tukod Foundation’s Awit at Laro campaign, which celebrates the spirit of play.

In photo: Ms. Elizabeth Aristorenas, Unilab Foundation Executive Director; Ms. Yasmin Mapua-Tang, Probe Media Foundation Executive Director; Ms. Lee Nabablit-Aguila, Council for the Welfare of Children Planning Officer; Mr. Geomel Jetonzo, World Vision Philippines Technical Program Manager for Education; Ms. Ma. Fatima Lorenzo, Kythe Foundation Executive Director; Ms. Anne Marie Dimalanta, A Child’s D.R.E.A.M. Foundation Administrator; Ms. Bambi Manosa-Tanjutco, Tukod Foundation Vice President; and Ms. Maribel Garcia, The Mind Museum Curator.

Integrating play in society

In its kick-off event, Play Champions shared how play is integrated in their respective fields during the kick-off event of Play Advocacy Week, a campaign led by Play It Forward, Unilab Foundation’s therapeutic play program for children founded on the belief that every child has the right to play, and that play is essential in the holistic development of children.

In Photo: Ms. Yasmin Mapua-Tang, Probe Media Foundation Executive Director; Ms. Lee Nabablit-Aguila, Council for the Welfare of Children Planning Officer; Mr. Geomel Jetonzo, World Vision Philippines Technical Program Manager for Education; Ms. Ma. Fatima Lorenzo, Kythe Foundation Executive Director; Ms. Anne Marie Dimalanta, A Child’s D.R.E.A.M. Foundation Administrator; Ms. Bambi Manosa-Tanjutco, Tukod Foundation Vice President; and Ms. Maribel Garcia, The Mind Museum Curator.

Play Champions, led by youth volunteers from Malabon City,  manifested their commitment to #MakePlayHappen by playing the Shagidi Maglaro during the the kick-off event of Play Advocacy Week, a campaign led by Play It Forward, Unilab Foundation’s therapeutic play program for children founded on the belief that every child has the right to play, and that play is essential in the holistic development of children.

Categories: Featured, Source