07/07/09
To date Save the Children in Sri Lanka has set up 47 safe play centres in the transitional welfare villages in Vavuniya for the benefit of over 16,000 displaced children. 26 of these spaces have been provided in cooperation with local NGOs.
Each space is housed in a temporary structure. They have been provided with 117 large containers of play items including both indoor and outdoor play materials such as cricket and badminton sets, volley balls, footballs, netballs, soft toys, skipping ropes, building blocks, rubber balls, tennis balls, chess sets, checkers, carom and other board games, dolls, toys and art materials such as tissues, gum, scissors, paint, crayons and art books.
In addition to this, water filters and first aid kits have also been provided.
So far, 43 volunteers from among the displaced community have been trained by Save the Children on play and art therapy, health promotion and managing the play space.
Child friendly space activities are in progress and children engaged in play and recreational activities with comprehensive psycho social care support.
“Even my smallest child is asking me to take him to the play center. When we see our children happily playing in a safe place, we are relieved and happy.” Said mother of one of the children.
Save the Children continues to support the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka in providing relief to displaced communities in Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Jaffna. Distribution of household essential items, clothes, educational material, setting up temporary learning spaces and provision of supplementary food are also part of Save the Children’s relief work.
For more information please contact Menaca Calyaneratne menaca@savethechildren.lk