Introducing Yohannes and his friends!

Project Basics

Project Aim:
To develop free play centers for children in Cairo, Egypt that foster free play while encouraging cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.

Target Population:
This project will aim at assisting refugee children ages four to ten years old located in Cairo, Egypt.

Center Location:
The free play centers will be developed within apartments in Cairo, Egypt. An ideal place will be a three bedroom apartment located in a central location heavily populated by refugees. Each room of the apartment will have a different station for free play (i.e. puzzles, music, art, etc).

Center Schedule:
Each center will be open four days a week (Monday- Thursday) for three hours after school.

Center Membership:
Each child will become a member of the center and receive a membership card with picture ID. This will not only help with center security, but will also assist in controlling the number of children that come to the center. Each child will be able to come to the center on a designated day(s).

Center Employment:
Each center will have one or two managers that will be expected to be at the center when it is open. They will be there to facilitate play, maintain order, and keep the center clean. Each employee will receive a monthly salary for their work.

Free Play Stations:
Each center will have several stations for free play. Station themes will include music, art, puzzles, blocks, costumes, science, geography, house, mixed toys, etc. Stations will vary depending on the available toys and resources.

Program Costs:
Costs are per center, based on estimates for average costs in Cairo, Egypt.

Start up costs (i.e. painting, cleaning, etc.) $200
Toys (plus donations) $300
Security Deposit for apartment $200
Rent/ Utilities $300/ month
Employee Salaries $100/ employee
(1-2 employees per center)

Total: $700 start up fees, $500 per month after initial start up

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We Need Your Support!

Thank you to everyone who voted for our project! We are now able to collect donations at http://www.givemeaning.com/project/yohannesyard. Please consider giving to our project!

Inspiration for the Project

Inspired by a nine year old Sudanese refugee boy in Cairo, Egypt, this project aims at providing safe centers for free play for children whose circumstances have denied them cognitive, physical, social, and emotional developmental opportunities. Play is the right of every child as defined by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights as it contributes to many facets of well-being for children and youth.

Free play and play behavior have been the focus of several studies of child development. Mostly studied in pre-school children, play behavior indicates levels of cognitive development as determined by age-level characteristics. Consistent with Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, free play helps in the transition from the sensorimotor stage to the preoperational and concrete operational stages that are shown in preschool to early middle school children. Play allows children to use their creativity, develop their imagination, improve dexterity, and strengthen their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being while engaging and interacting with the world around them. Fostering new competencies, children gain confidence and resiliency which are necessary to face future challenges. Through undirected play, children learn to share, work in groups, negotiate, and use self-advocacy skills.

Unfortunately, Yohannes, and many children like him, are unable to enjoy the benefits of free play because of their circumstances. As the United States struggles with factors such as busy schedules, working parents, and a high-tech society, the AAP advises that parents make time for children to have spontaneous free play and enjoy the value of “true toys” such as blocks and puzzles. The same advice can be carried over to children who live in crammed housing, experience unsanitary conditions, lack toys of any value, and are not encouraged to use their imagination.

Sudanese children in Cairo, Egypt lack the proper conditions to enjoy free play. Because of the lack of play and other factors, they experience slower cognitive development, do not practice creativity, exhibit different age-level characteristics, and do not participate in physical activity. This project aims to provide a “yard” for these children to be able to play in safe, creative conditions.