WORLD VISION GIVES CHILDREN THE RIGHT TO PLAY

The right to play and leisure is one of the fundamental  human rights of a child. World Vision Sierra Leone has given children affected by flood in slums in the Capital, Freetown this right.

In  heavy rains flooded slums in Freetown, leaving thousands destitute and property totally destroyed. A huge number of  people—men, women and children alike were seeking refuge at the Sierra Leone National Stadium in Freetown.

World Vision responded  within the first 24 hours of the flood in many ways—provision of food (rice, cooking oil) and non-food items including mattresses, blankets , cups, spoons etc. Other NGOs helped, too. But that could not solve the accommodation issues at the National stadium.

The Government of Sierra Leone on realizing that letting the inhabitants of the slums return to their places will pose serious hazards, engaged  International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)—including World Vision, on finding a suitable place and relocating persons affected by the flood. Mile six was agreed upon. Mile six is  in the Western rural area, East end of Freetown.

Government of Sierra Leone and its partners have relocated displaced persons to their new site at mile six. Children, men and women love it there. It’s a cleaner environment this time, it’s spacious, and conducive. But it lacked recreational facilities for children.

World Vision provided children of Mile six with recreational facilities (merry go round, step Rider, sea sow and ringing bell) worth $ 5,000 USD.

 ‘’All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. We appreciate what World Vision has done for our children. Such facilities are  hard to come by and are mostly, only available to children attending private schools, says Moses Trye, Camp Manager, Mile Six.

‘’They didn’t have such opportunities in the slums where we are coming from. But our children have now been  given the opportunity to enjoy it. Provision of these items is timely and good for our children. When the children play, you can sense the happiness. The society belongs to children. They grow and become strong to be leaders in the future. If the children don’t have a place to play, life becomes very boring. And this will affect them socially.World Vision has set the pace, he further explains’’  

Umu Turay, 14, breaks the boredom that kept her and her peers unhappy .’When we came here at first, we didn’t have these facilities. We were bored—nowhere to crack jokes and laugh,’’ she says. ‘’We felt like going back to where we came from. But  we thank World Vision for what they have done. We no longer go to that dangerous and dirty stream to play. We no longer go to other people’s compound or villages to play. We have it all here now.’’

Creating a child-friendly environment for children  is also very important  to World Vision.

The right to play is not just a universal right of a child, but it is also inscribed in Sierra Leone’s Child Rights Act.

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