Thanks to a new grant TOY for Inclusion will open eight new Play Hubs and expand to two new countries.

Investing in social inclusion must start with young children and their eagerness to play and learn.

Over the past two years, TOY for Inclusion has been working to smoothen the transition into primary education and improving the educational experience of children in order to foster integration.

The idea of creating non-formal educational spaces (called Play Hubs) for children and families to support their inclusion has proven successful. It’s four thousand the total number of children involved throughout Europe in 2018.

Recently two partners from Turkey and the Netherlands have joined the project and will open the first Play Hub in their countries.

Turkey

AKROMFED, a federation of six Roma organizations will open a Play Hub in the town of Mersin. The partners are hoping to increase the access of Romani children to preschool, which is still limited compared to the majority population.

AKROMFED supports access to quality education for Romani children and young people from the age of preschool till tertiary education. The Play Hub would add to a playground for young children that is already run by the organization.

Netherlands

The Salvation Army Netherlands has joined TOY for Inclusion as an associate partner to open a Play Hub in their country. The Salvation Army provides social support and child protection services. Romani families are one of their specific target groups. Together with Romani civil society, the Salvation Army will mobilize the local community and create a new Play Hub.

One extra Play Hub in each country

In addition, the project will open one new Play Hub in Croatia, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Italy. It will expand the group of beneficiaries to migrant and ‘hard to reach’ children too.

Read more about TOY for Inclusion here.