According to United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), COVID-19 may have long-lasting impacts on children and young people's mental health and well-being.
With the changes and restrictions continuously imposed due to COVID-19, as well as the transition from online classes back to face-to-face classes, the mental health and wellbeing of children is greatly at risk – vulnerable to fear, anxiety, and developmental delay.
On its fourth year, the Philippine Play Coalition invites brands, organizations, and communities to harness the power of play through the National Play Advocacy Week (NPAW).
NPAW is an annual week-long celebration during the third week of November that encourages everyone to provide platforms for children to enjoy their right to play. Highlighting the importance of community support and collaboration, NPAW 2022 aims to strengthen protective factors that will contribute to making Filipino children happy and healthy amidst the challenges the world is facing today.
In line with the National Children’s Month theme, “Kalusugan, Kaisipan, at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan!” this year’s NPAW 2022 celebration highlights the importance of play in the promotion of the mental health and wellbeing of children.
An online kick-off activity will be held on November 14, 2022, in partnership with the Department of Education, which also marks the National Students’ Day celebration.
Recognizing the benefits of play to the holistic wellbeing of a child, NPAW brings to light the importance of this forgotten, often overlooked, right of the child. Whether online or offline, NPAW 2022 encourages Filipinos to make play a priority in raising mentally healthy children. The event will bring back nostalgic larong Pinoy ideas that can be played throughout the week.
Over the years, NPAW has reached over 500,000 Filipinos, bringing together more than 250 organizations and government agencies in facilitating access to play to more than 45,000 children across 17 regions of the country. The Coalition strives to continuously deepen the impact of play in improving the quality of lives of Filipino children.
The National Play Advocacy Week is led and organized by the Philippine Play Coalition (PPC), a network of child-focused organizations convened by Unilab Foundation in 2019. Its steering committee members include the Council for the Welfare of Children, Unilab Foundation, World Vision, Unang Hakbang Foundation, Kythe Foundation, Tukod Foundation, and Educo Philippines.
If you wish to partner with the PPC for this celebration, you may sign up through bit.ly/NPAW2022EventRegistration. Access resources through bit.ly/NPAW2022_Toolkit.
Follow us on Facebook through www.facebook.com/PhilippinePlayCoalition for more updates.
