This article presents a historical overview of Chinese attitudes to children's play activities. While Confucian and neo-Confucian scholars based their pedagogical teaching on an idealised image of childhood and showed a hostile attitude to play, games and toys, traditional China accepted children's right to play. Furthermore, a dualism between play activities and daily life activities was alien to Chinese traditional society, and games were rather understood as interwoven into daily life in many ways. This paper can be particularly useful to researchers and practitioners keen on exploring the cultural foundations of childhood and children's education in contemporary China
This report presents the status of children with disabilities in the former Soviet Union and Baltic States (i.e. CEE/CIS). It explains existing rights and education, healthcare and recreation facilities that are provided for children with disabilities. The concerns of children with disabilities and their parents are highlighted on various issues. This report would be useful for people interested in the status of children with disabilities in the former Soviet Union and Baltic States
This evaluation report presents the method for theatre development training and coaching as demonstrated in the Village Development Programme in the Savannakhet Province. The report examines the programme and presents lessons learned and recommendations about its application Village
Development Programme Evaluation
Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR
9 August - 8 September 2004
This report "addresses the definition and scope of cultural activity by disabled artists, scholars and activists through a range of media (print, video/film, performance and other) in North America and internationally...It makes explicit the implications of cultural activities for different sectors of life in Ontario but also for the global movement of disabled people towards full inclusion"
Overall, young people today are better off than previous generations, but many are still severely hindered by a lack of education, poverty, health risks, unemployment and the impact of conflict. The World Youth Report 2003 provides an overview of the global situation of young people. The first ten chapters focus on the priority areas of education, employment, extreme poverty, health issues, the environment, drugs, delinquency, leisure time, the situation of girls and young women, and youth participation in decision-making as identified by the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) adopted by the General Assembly in 1995. The remaining five chapters address some of the newer issues that were later identified as additional priorities for youth and were adopted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2003
This paper explores different populations of out-of-school youth ; examines the link between schooling and safer sexual behaviors, and presents programs that work with young people who do not or cannot attend formal schools. Four case studies detailing programs working with mainstream and marginalized youth are also included
This is a collection of case studies of child-to-child health promotion activities and experiences. The focus is on early years children, who have been shown to be capable of peer-to-peer support. Through their involvement in health and development, children are able to contribute to the development of their communities, learning skills and shaping their personalities. The case studies included describe the experiences of children involved in education, HIV/AIDS and Memory Work, and contributing to the creation of resource centres in emergency settings and learning centres for community development
This French language publication offers theatre groups accurate information on HIV and AIDS, ideas on how to sensitise audiences to HIV and AIDS, how to write a script and other useful related topics
This report describes the situation of people with intellectual disabilities in Lithuania. It describes issues in Lithuania according to 13 of the Standard Rules for the Equalization of Persons with Disabilities. The report addresses researchers, lobbyists and organisations of people with disabilities
Discusses the tension and synergy of culture and participatory development through examples of theatre for development experiences in Mali and Namibia. The author describes performances and processes for setting up performance activities in villages, some of which had their own forms of narrative drama, and others which developed these with external support. The article discusses the implications of importing and imposing cultural forms to achieve project goals, and contrasts this with the ethos of theatre for development, which seeks to engage community members in a dialogue with development workers in order to foster participation in and ownership of development activities
This handbook looks at the activities used in the GTZ (German Agency for Technical Co-operation) pilot project called "Rehabilitation through sports activities for children and young people in war-affected countries". The project aimed to strengthen disabled children both physically and mentally by promoting their rehabilitation, social integration and capacity for self help. The handbook provides basic guidelines for the implementation of sports and games as a means of rehabilitation and integration, building on the experiences from workshops in Angola and Cambodia, which tested 12 games. It includes an evaluation sheet that can be adapted and used
This report describes the situation of people with intellectual disabilities in Belarus. It describes issues in Belarus according to 13 of the Standard Rules for the Equalization of Persons with Disabilites. The report addresses researchers, lobbyists and organisations of people with disabilities
This manual describes one of the tools used in "memory work", an approach to helping families and communities cope with HIV and AIDS. Through a series of art exercises and storytelling, children are encouraged to identify their heroes or role models. This process should help children affected by HIV/AIDS to cope with emotions (sadness, fear, anger), and to develop resilience and a positive approach to life. Through the process of developing a book, children are also encouraged to see themselves as heroes, to rely on their strengths and maximise their potential to overcome the problems they might encounter
This paper explores how culture can be used in various forms (theatre, music, dance, traditional medicine, and more) as a means to communicate and encourage behavior change for HIV/AIDS prevention. It highlights theater for development and collaboration with traditional healers as viable alternatives to more conventional communication and behavior change models. It presents several case studies, good practices from the field, and lessons learned. The authors' understanding of a cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention means understanding and using a community's cultural references as a framework for the design and implementation of prevention policies and programmes. Programmes that have employed this approach are characterized by their participatory approach that fosters community ownership and in turn, can result in both greater efficacy and sustainability within the community
This book explores the use of music therapy in school and community settings to enhance the development of independent leisure skills with a variety of client populations, including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and other aging-related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, and physical disabilities
This issue of Sexual Health Exchange includes articles on performance art / theatre for development projects in 12 countries. The diverse projects described tend to focus on social change as well as behaviour change communications, and range from peer education projects to edu-clowns to mass-media soap operas
The Country Report presents the results of a survey in Slovenia in order to determine to which extent this country has implemented the UN Standard rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities of persons with disabilities
An organisation with 600+ members in 70 countries whose goal is to exchange ideas, experiences, and works that relate to social, economic and educational development in tandem with arts, and to work collaboratively and create tangible policies and projects that allow those untouched creative areas to develop. The e-forum is a great resource for arts-related postings. You can subscribe by visiting http://www.art4development.net or by sending a blank email to See also the 'Knowledge Centre' under 'Projects' on the website for links to some interesting publications around art and development
Leisure is an important aspect of our lives allowing us to expand our horizons through the development of our interests, whilst at the same time giving us the opportunity to meet and interact with others holding similar interests.
Leisure takes on an additional significance for disabled people who generally do not experience easy access into mainstream education or work. Barriers to full and equal participation in these areas result in young disabled people having more time for leisure pursuits but experiencing greater difficulty in accessing leisure services, activities and pastimes
Describes the development of a youth group in Thailand that engages in HIV/AIDS education through puppet shows, stage plays, youth training and workshops, youth camps, village broadcasting, small group discussions, sports and competitions, and radio shows. In all activities, they integrate information about HIV/AIDS and emphasize the participation of the community throughout the process. Some useful lessons are included in the final section, 'Turning from a risk group to a responsible body'. The report was prepared by the youth themselves, and was translated and published by UNDP-SEAHIV