Ubuntu Self Help Educare Resource Centre (USHERC) Toy Library

The library provides a large variety of toys and games; it is much cheaper to borrow the toys than it would be to buy them. Parents and practitioners learn how to use the toys for fun and education. The toy library's rationale can be described as follows:

• Educational - Learning and development are the primary objectives; fun and enjoyment are the secondary objectives. Active learning libraries usually serve young children in the foundation phase and children with special needs, providing play equipment that helps develop important skills and concepts. However, they can provide material for youth and even adults, e.g., games that develop entrepreneurial skills and improve thinking skills.
• Recreational - enjoyment and social interaction are important, but learning also takes place. The play activities are seen as a resource to prevent alcohol, drug, and sexual abuse in youth and as an antidote to the stress of being homeless and orphaned and other forms of abuse, violence, and war. Organisers believe that all teenagers can benefit from access to stimulating and challenging activities (in fact, adults in prison and the elderly also enjoy recreational play). The benefits of playing games include socialisation and the stimulation of thinking skills and memory.
• Quality of life - the play activities provide fun and enjoyment to groups like children and adults with serious illnesses (either in hospitals or in places of care) or people with severe disabilities.

The Toy Library acts as an information centre for different aspects of early childhood development, including:

• names of local educare centres
• names of therapists that can help with different problems
• posters and pamphlets on health, nutrition, welfare, safety and child abuse.
• booklets on nutrition, discipline and other child-related topics.

In addition to operating this library, the project addresses the health and education rights of children by encouraging food gardens within day care centres, promoting the physical development of children, and encouraging hygienic conditions in day care centres. A special focus of this work is on protecting and advancing the rights of disadvantaged children (in particular, those living in rural areas and informal settlements) to basic necessities including ECD and health care that can sustain their long-term development. Project organisers hope thereby to support families, child minders, and pre-schools to uplift the standard of living of children.

Early Childhood Development (ECD), Children, Health, Rights, Education.