Thousands of toys to give away to children in need

PLAY Africa, a non-profit organisation, has partnered with international children’s entertainment company, Spin Master, to launch the Toy Movement campaign.

Aimed at disadvantaged children, the campaign will give thousands of toys to kids who don’t have any or a place to play with them.

After launching in several countries around the world, including Mexico, Israel, Jordan, and Turkey, the campaign’s official SA launch took place at Constitution

Hill in Johannesburg on December 1.

Gretchen Wilson-Prangley, CEO of Play Africa said: “Many South African children lack toys and other learning tools that can help stimulate a range of child-initiated, open-ended play activities which bolster cognitive, physical, social and emotional development.”

The campaign began in 2014, is supported by children’s entertainment companies and has given away 44 000 toys to over 300 schools in the area. Some of them are even being being brought to grade R kids here in the Western Cape.

Mark Segal, Spin Master’s executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer said: “Spin Master’s vision is to make life more fun and, based on our position in the toy industry, we feel it’s our responsibility to help children in need.

“The Toy Movement has the goal of bringing inspiration and the opportunity to learn, grow and play to children living in challenging situations and that’s what we hope to inspire. Many of us have roots in South Africa, so this is a particularly gratifying initiative,” he added.

The toys were distributed through partner organisations which include 73 schools, five hospitals, seven orphanages, and several non-profit organisations around the country.

“Play is how children learn, and every child’s right to play is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,” said Wilson-Prangley.

Play is how children learn, according to toy company Spin Master.