Category : India

We are lucky to work with trainers around the world who are dedicated to creating peace. A perfect example of this is Nikhil Mehta, our trainer in Mumbai, India, who recently hosted a Play for Peace session in the Aarey Colony, which has been in the news due to serious conflict.

As the world changes, we are constantly evaluating our methodology to ensure that Play for Peace is meeting the needs of communities around the world. Since climate change is a major challenge the world is facing, we are hosting our first-ever Resilience Training to participants dealing with the after effects of unprecedented flooding.

When it comes to partnering, universities are a natural fit for Play for Peace. For this reason, we recently conducted a two-day youth leadership training at SNDT Women’s University in Pune, India, to teach students there about the cooperative play experience and experiential education. 

Tomorrow, September 21, is World Peace Day. In honor of this important global celebration, we are excited about the many wonderful efforts happening in the Play for Peace global community—from our clubs’ World Peace Day activities to our annual Fall 5K event. 

This past April, Play for Peace clubs around the world celebrated Earth Week by taking part in the 2019 Play for Peace Global Games. Working with more than 700 children over the course of the week, our clubs explored what it means to be a leader when you feel connected to the earth.

This special guest blog post by Shiekh Nadiya Habib, a child protection social activist in India, describes how training with Play for Peace has truly inspired and affected her life for the better, and how she hopes to be a certified trainer one day.

Even within the most vulnerable communities there are resources to create peace. This was the case for Haripriya Bathula, from the Play for Peace club in Hyderabad, who recently had a very special training experience.

Nikhil Mehta, a Play for Peace certified trainer from Pune, India, reflects on his experience with the power of cooperative play and the unique spirit of Play for Peace. 

Archana Magar, a certified trainer and regional coordinator in India, has been using Play for Peace during her work with terminal stage three cancer patients. During weekly narrative therapy sessions, Archana incorporates narrative ideas into Play for Peace activities and has had much success with participants.

An inspiring experience with cooperative play led Archana to join Play for Peace in 2008. Now a regional coordinator and global trainer in India, she inspires others to use play as a way to connect with children and create peace.

Play for Peace trainer Vijay works with one of the most ostracized societies in India, the Dalit. A Dalit himself, he understands the need to empower his community using Play for Peace. Learn about his work with Dalit children and youth and his recent effort to open a library featuring Dalit authors.

The Jagran Club in India recently received Play for Peace certified trainers Swati and Agyat, who closely worked with Sahil Balmiki and taught him how to conduct play sessions and how to interact with younger children through these activities.

The Jagran Club brings hope to children in its community. This hope is not an outcome of just words, but of very devoted and unconditional work. Jagran operates under its motto, “Work, Not Words” and continues to change the lives of children throughout India.

UPDATE: Swati and Agyat reached Kashmir where they intended to work with the people who run Child Friendly Spaces (CFS). The project was implemented by Action Aid, which has two partners and the desire to run 100 CFS. The plan was to have two…

“I have been working with the community for 15 years, where violence is always the same. But in the last 4 years, children and youth who are with me are touching new skies in their lives. For me, PFP is life.” —PFP Mentor, Vijay Kumar

With 35 youngsters from Kolkata, India, the Disciples for Peace Club, led by trainer Arzoo Shakir, celebrated the Compassion Games Global Unity Games. Her team and the participants could not get enough!

During Earth Week, mentor Arzoo Shakir and her team, the Disciples for Peace club, joined the global event to promote protection of the environment and conserve water.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” To commemorate the annual World Interfaith Harmony Week, Play for Peace clubs worldwide conducted successful play sessions. 

Two clubs from India, the Disciples for Peace Club and The Play for Peace Club in Mumbai are two of our many clubs who participated in Compassion Games’ 12-day campaign, The Giving Games: Youth and Schools Play it Forward.

On October 1, the Khula Aasman Club in Mumbai partnered with Doctors For You to participate in a Walk for Peace to celebrate World Peace Day. 107 inspiring young people joined the walk.