Blue Bahay: More than a Place to Play

Abstract

How can we enable disadvantaged youth, whose past and present are unstructured, to (re)build themselves and start thinking about their future? The incredibly effective solution developed by the Delépine Foundation is to let them play! Playing is most often downgraded to a mere form of entertainment. However, it has proven to be essential for education. With a limited budget, the Delépine Foundation (through Aurore Prudent-Roiland) created Blue Bahay, a play center for street and slum children in the Philippines. Through play, young people heal their psychological wounds and increase their resilience. They discover the joy of learning with results that often surpass those of school systems. And they develop their sense of living together, especially through free play.