Our Goals

"Your goal should be out of reach but not out of sight."
Anita DeFrantz

World at Play seeks to involve young people in the joy of sport and games. To do so, World at Play organises expeditions that stop for a week’s time at destinations in several countries, in order to organise sport and games sessions for disadvantaged children.

These children are empowered, excited, and enabled by activities carefully tailored to maximise the proven cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits of play. Further, World at Play team members work with the children’s caretakers in order to encourage the incorporation of sport and games into everyday life. Finally, the World at Play team donates considerable quantities of sporting equipment at each destination, thus encouraging such activities to continue long into the future.
     

Whilst the interests of children are paramount, we at World at Play also seek to benefit our expedition teams. In undertaking a long and challenging journey together, team members find new strengths and foster new abilities. Skills, independence, and tolerance develop as each team member discovers the unparalleled rewards of World at Play.

On a larger scale, World at Play aims to prove that the activity sessions run by our team members can transcend cultural, religious, economic and geographical boundaries. As an internationally and socially diverse group, each World at Play team already embodies this principle; in sharing their diversity with children worldwide, and in teaching activities learned in one country to children in another, team members foster international understanding through the universal language of play.

"I think we all learnt a lot about being in a group of people and how to deal with situations that are very foreign and new. I am convinced of the value of play even more than ever and my kids (if I’m ever lucky enough to have any) will never hear the end of it. I’ve also learnt to be less skeptical, sometimes the craziest ideas are actually possible if you put your mind to it."

Sebastian Hayes, World at Play Expedition Member

World at Play respects and appreciates the work of those individuals and organisations working tirelessly to provide for children’s basic needs. However, World at Play also believes that basic needs are not enough.

Over the course of the next few years, World at Play will run more expeditions to other areas of the world, but we need you to help us with this task. If you think that what we believe is true – that play is absolutely crucial to children’s development, irrespective of what country they are from, what religion they belong to, or what abilities they might have - then help World at Play.

We are committed to working for World at Play for many years to come. I hope that when you look over this site, and look at our pictures, and read our stories, you will understand why.

   

"I will play more, I will teach kids how to play. I will spread the joy of playing and will share the games with others so more people will play and eventually this will spread world-wide and everyone will be play, or more importantly everyone will know how to play!"

Ondrej Filip, World at Play Expedition Member