- Agyatmitra Shunya,
Play for Peace organizer
NORMAL – Peaceful play among children does not always occur in school, sometimes leading to conflict. Play for Peace, a program initiated in 1996, responds to conflict across the globe and most recently here in Bloomington-Normal.
The program is a dynamic global learning community headquartered in Chicago that is dedicated to connecting children, youth and organizations through cooperative play to create laughter, compassion and peace. This community is set up all around the world; India, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, South Africa, Kenya, Israel/Palestine, Guatemala, and now Central Illinois.
Organizers and students at ISU are in the process of setting up a Play for Peace registered student organization to create peace with children around the community. Agyatmitra Shunya and Swati Bhatt are part of the Play for Peace community based in India. They, along with Sam Tower and Sarah Storm-Tower from Tacoma, Wash., came to Clinton, Ill. schools, where Play for Peace is already implemented into the school system.
Now they find themselves at ISU, showing others what Play for Peace is all about. “We are trying to get young adults trained to teach children in this getting-along program for kids and the community,” Tower said. Clinton Schools, along with Blue Ridge Schools in Farmer City, and Deland-Weldon Schools, have already implemented the program into their school system. High school students go into grade schools to teach the younger kids games that promote laughter and peace.
“These kids at Clinton High School were in Play for Peace when they were younger and wanted to be mentors for these kids now, so they are running the program there at Clinton Grade School,” Tower said. Sharon Mills, member of the ISU applied social research unit and mentor for Play for Peace, said this program is a good thing for the high school students. “These high school students are teaching elementary kids and gaining leadership skills, and now we are forming a Play for Peace organization here at ISU as well. It will be a student-led organization, and it will be up to the students to decide how to form it,” she said.
Students will be trained by Play for Peace certified professionals from their region on four levels; Level 1- The Joy of Play, Level 2- Facilitation Skills, Level 3-Community Action Skills, and Level 4- Advanced Skills and Knowledge. The new trainees will complete their training within 10-16 hours, and will then be able to form different games to teach children. Shunya is pleased this program is spreading around the globe. “Before Play for Peace started in India, there was no fairness, only judgment and conflict with children in their communities,” he said.
Play for Peace creates this experience for children to never experience elimination, only laughter and fun. Shunya believes Play for Peace is exactly what schools in every community need to help children understand and support each other. “We don’t need talking to play games, play is a common, universal language,” he said. “We want children to walk into school and have everyone welcome them, we want kids to realize that they are valuable.”
Play for Peace games are not competition-based. “Activities range from small to large, they are modified to include all children, with no elimination,” Storm-Tower said. “Play for Peace does not look the same everywhere, games are done depending on the community.” Mills added.
Play for Peace games have spread all over the world; from India to the United States, where each area makes up its own games and are able to share their games with the global network of Play for Peace. “As long as games are fun, non-competitive, safe and respectful, Play for Peace makes an impact,” Mills said.
No child has to sign up to be in Play for Peace. Once ISU gets a registered student organization for Play for Peace, student leaders will go around to the schools in the community and play the games they were trained to teach the children.
For more information on Play for Peace contact www.playforpeace.org, or smmills@ilstu.edu.