TOY for Inclusion 

ECEC Play Hubs have now opened in 6 European countries: Belgium, Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia. These have been developed in the context of the TOY Programme in partnership with the REYN Network and are designed to mobilize local communities around young children. Intergenerational play and learning activities involving older people with and without a Roma background are being organized in the ECEC Play Hubs. 

Anna Dirdova, mother of six children participating in the Spissky Hrhov ECEC Play Hub in Slovakia is very enthusiastic:

“I have never felt so welcome and respected before. The new place I have just visited with my kids is something we should have had much sooner. My boys are happy to play with other kids from the village and nobody treats them any differently. They even have the chance to use books and toys I could never afford. What a perfect place!”

Click here for the information leaflet for communities about the ECEC Play Hubs.

Click here more information about all the ECEC Play Hubs.

TOY for Inclusion is coordinated by ICDI and funded by DG Justice – European Commission and Open Society Foundations (OSF). 

Click here for more information about TOY for Inclusion.

TOY Blog: intergenerational learning from Italy to Japan

La Crèche in Merate, Italy have been running their intergenerational summer camp since the beginning of the TOY Project (2013). News of this innovative Intergenerational Learning initiative has spread far afield. Recently, they hosted a delegation from Japan. Silvia Porta, from La Crèche, writes about the experience in this blog.

Read the TOY blog here.

If you are interested in writing for the TOY blog please contact us: info@toyproject.net.  

Playful learning – TOY presented in Brussels

Research shows that play and learning are the best combination for the kind of learning that is necessary in the 21st century. It is becoming clear that we must educate lifelong learners, and as people usually like doing things they enjoy, playfulness and creativity are important elements.

This was a key message at a Brussels event on playful learning jointly hosted by the European Parents’ Association and the European Economic and Social Committee which took place on  24 January.

We were honoured to be invited to present the TOY approach, an inspiring practice in playful intergenerational learning, at the event.

Click here to read an article on the event where Mathijs Euwema, Director of ICDI, presented TOY. 

Linking Generations Northern Ireland (LGNI) projects given a Peoples’ Project Award

Between September 2017 and January 2018, TOY partner, Linking Generations Northern Irelands (LGNI) initiated three projects which connected care homes with local primary school children in art projects facilitated by local artists. The aim was to engage the local community in activities that would overcome social isolation, create memorable art work and build real and lasting relationships and provide encouragement towards future volunteering opportunities.

The projects began with the children taking part in Dementia Awareness Training, becoming Dementia friends and learning skills that would help good communication. There then followed four art sessions facilitated by an arts facilitator concluding with an Exhibition of the Art work in the care home and a celebration of what had been achieved.

The three projects were:- Glencarron Nursing Home Crossmaglen and St. Patrick’s Primary School Gaelscoil Phàdraig Naofa; Spelga Mews Care Home and Bridge Integrated Primary School Banbridge and Gillaroo Lodge Nursing Home and Roddensvale School Larne

In all over ninety pupils successfully participated in the dementia awareness training and forty-five pupils completed art sessions with 35 care home residents. All three were a great success and have led to follow-up visits and activities that are planned to continue into the future.

The Peoples Project Awards are supported by the Big Lottery Fund and Ulster television (UTV).