Toy for Inclusion
TOY for Inclusion is the gateway to education and care for many children of disadvantaged communities. The project has created eight Play Hubs for young children in the EU which have obtained extraordinary results:
The project strengthens integration and social cohesion by bringing children and families from different backgrounds together.
Over 4,000 children involved in our activities in 2018
A particular focus is put on Romani, migrant and socially disadvantaged children. By creating Play Hubs at local level, TOY for Inclusion provides opportunities for children, adults and communities to integrate and develop. For more detailed results, download our brochure here.
What is a TOY for inclusion Play Hub?
It is a space where children and their families are welcomed to play games with each other, meet with other families and take part in creative and social activities. At the Play Hub, information about childrearing, health, early learning and development can be passed-on informally to (grand)parents. It is an inclusive space and families of different backgrounds are encouraged to join.
In 2018, TOY for Inclusion has opened eight Play Hubs in seven European countries: one in Belgium, Croatia, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and two in Italy.
The Play Hubs are very successful in:
The Romani Early Years Network (REYN) and TOY project together
REYN and Together Old and Young (TOY) joined forces to create TOY for Inclusion. The project addresses increasingly worrying issues like discrimination and segregation that oppress Romani and migrant children from very early age.
Building on the success of the TOY project, TOY for Inclusion combines two approaches: it promotes intergenerational learning opportunities between older adults and young children as well as community-based early childhood education and care (ECEC).
TOY for Inclusion is coordinated by International Child Development Initiatives – ICDI (NL). Other partners are the International Step-by-Step Association – ISSA (NL), Akromfed (Mediterranean Roma Associations Federation), the Salvation Army Netherlands and six members of REYN: Educational Research Institute – ERI (Slovenia), Open Academy Step by Step – OASS (Croatia), Centre for Education Initiatives – CEI (Latvia), Wide Open School – WOS (Slovakia), Associazione 21 Luglio (Italy) and Partners Hungary Foundation.
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.