press releases
USAID Gives Children A Safe Place To Play
02/25/2006Islamabad – To help children cope with the earthquake’s aftermath, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) helped create safe play areas for children affected by the devastation. Safe play areas are carefully planned to have limited exposure to hazards. The tented, safe areas provide children with a comfortable place to play games, listen to stories, make friends and learn life skills. Children also have access to outdoor play equipment and cricket fields.
The safe play areas, created by USAID partner Save the Children, give young children a safe place to play and regain a sense of normalcy. The routine and the care provided have helped traumatized children recover. Safe play areas also provide a focus for otherwise unoccupied older children. The older youths are asked to lead safe play activities for their younger counterparts by looking after toys and equipment. Meanwhile, parents busy trying to rebuild their lives welcome the respite of knowing their children are being taken care of for.
The program’s cash-for-work component helps those affected by the earthquake generate income while helping their neighbors recover and rebuild. Safe play supervisors receive stipends, helping their families regain their independence in exchange for providing activity for children in temporary shelters.
The United States, through USAID, is providing more than $1.5 billion in development assistance to Pakistan over the next five years to improve education, health, governance and economic growth. In addition, the United States has pledged a total of $510 million in earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts to assist the people of Pakistan and to support Pakistani government relief and reconstruction efforts.