The City of Peace: Kurds in Kobani open indoor play place for children
There are two separate rooms inside the play area, one for toddlers and another for older children. Kids have an abundance of options where they can play with toys, balls, climb gymnastic nets and walls, and use slides and swings.
The slides and playground toys, as well as the walls of the play area, are covered in sponges to protect the kids from getting injured.
“We don’t use steel or metal toys. All the slides and walls are covered in sponge and plastic to protect the kids from harm while they play,” Ali told Kurdistan 24.
The project provides the children in Kobani a chance to enjoy their childhood and forget about the memories of war.
At the height of its emergence in 2014, the Islamic State advanced on the Kurdish town of Kobani, but joint efforts from the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Peshmerga forces from the Kurdistan Region ensured the extremist group had a short-lived reign in the city.
Moreover, during the years-long Syrian crisis, children have borne the brunt of the conflict. However, as conditions in the northern parts of the country improve, many activists continue to explore ways to rekindle a childhood for the youth who have been deprived of it due to war.
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Ziwa Hussein, one of the supervisors at The City of Peace play area, said the organizers hope they can improve the psychological well-being of the children by keeping them away from the streets which may serve as a reminder of the war.
“We want the children to have a place to play and enjoy their youth,” she told Kurdistan 24. “Children of all ages can come here, enjoy their time, and have fun.”
(Additional reporting by Redwan Bezar)
