"We're playing the games taught by Play for Peace in CFS centers in a lot of campsites. I don't have a picture but it would be great if you tell them that we have started this initiation we finally got to see some smiles on these kids' faces who r even scared to live under the tents."
We were so grateful to receive this poignant Facebook inbox message from Pranjali, a staff member of Nepal Children's Art Museum (NCAM). Communication has been spotty at best with our Play for Peace friends and community in Nepal and I know she used precious minutes on the internet to send it to us. While Play for Peace does not have a formal natural disaster/emergency program, we have found time and time again, in India, Indonesia, and Guatemala, when a community is in need, the Play for Peace Community responds. Play for Peace has been used to ease tensions in refugee/relief camps and support the emotional health of children who have lost loved ones and their feeling of safety.
Thanks to NCAM, "a safe and creative space that provides children and youth with creative and educational outlets for expressing themselves and reflecting on their culture amidst the instability in the country," a few more children will begin to smile for the first time in days and hope will begin to bloom, Play for Peace will be spreading in Kathmandu during this tragic time. Play for Peace was just invited to Nepal by this great organization and trainers Swati and Agyat from India trained teachers and youth volunteers to start their very own Play for Peace early this year. Here of a few photos of this training. SUPPORT NCAM'S RECOVERY OPERATION HERE!
