Last year, I stood in a dusty playground in Kenya interviewing a boy called Paul about what his free school lunch, provided by a local NGO, meant to him. I expected Paul to say “it means I don’t go hungry” or “I have more energy to learn in class”. But the first thing that came out of Paul’s mouth was “now that I eat lunch, I can play with my friends”. With a hot meal in his belly, Paul didn’t have to lie in the dust and sleep at lunchtime anymore. He could run around and play football with the other kids in his class.
When we see photos of children from other areas of the world, especially those living in poverty, it’s easy to forget that they are kids, just like our kids. That they love to run, and skip, and jump, and smile and laugh, just like we did when we were little. Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr. once said “men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” Play can keep us young, it can take away our worries and it can help children deal with any problems they face. So here are 22 photos of children from all around the world, doing what kids deserve to do the most - to play.
1. Nairobi, Kenya
Photo by Shining Hope for Communities, via Instagram.
Vanessa, a pupil at the Kibera School for Girls, shows off her jump rope skills! She attends the slum’s first tuition-free primary school for girls, located in the capital of Kenya.
2. Sao Tome
Photo by Popody on Instagram.
Happy young boys in Sao Tome, an island nation off the western coast of Central Africa.
3. Australia
Photo by Miss_Pigeon on Instagram.
Two little girls enjoy a vintage tea party!
4. Pisaq, Peru
Photo by OscarDurand on Instagram.
Children play volleyball in the village of Pisaq, Peru. The village is located in the Sacred Valley Of The Incas, close to the ancient city of Machu Picchu.
5. Ifakara, Tanzania
Photo by Nana Kofi Acquah via EverydayAfrica on Instagram.
A child in Ifakara, Tanzania shows photographer Nana Kofi Acquah his home-made football. He made it out of plastic waste and rags. Acquah writes ‘if all kids around the world found such creative uses for plastic waste, won't the world be a neater place?’
6. India
Photo by Sandee Pachetan.
How incredible do these homemade skateboards look?! Boys in India play.
7. The United States of America
Image Credit: Bored Panda Reader Submission.
Grass wrestling in the USA!
8. Nakuru, Kenya
Photo by Nakuru Children's Project.
Lena, a pupil in Nakuru, Kenya, plays with her prized doll. Lena was in a car accident as a young girl, leaving her with mental and physical disabilities. Despite this, she is bright, enthusiastic and affectionate. Lena’s teachers awarded her this doll for hardwork in class.
9. Pakistan
Photo from Pakistan2 on Tumblr.
Girls enjoy skipping in a refugee camp in Pakistan.
10. Gaza City, Palestine
Photo by EveryDayMiddleEast on Instagram.
Palestinian boys play with balloons at the port in Gaza City.
11. Bangladesh
Photo by Steve McMurry
A group of friends go for some natural swimming in Bangladesh.
12. Rome, Italy
Photo by Michael Potyomin.
Blowing giant bubbles in Rome, Italy!
13. Tacloban, The Philippines
Photo by David Guttenfelder on Instagram.
A boy plays in the street in the Typhoon Haiyan destroyed town of Tacloban, The Philippines.
14. Sourutuna Village, Mali
Photo by Charity: Water on Instagram.
Cheeky kids in Sourutuna Village, Mali, show off their slingshots!
15. Thailand
Photo by EveryDayAsia on Instagram.
Children play with waves crashing into the shore at Hin Luk Dieaw beach, Thailand. They belong to the Moken, a sea tribe that traditionally lived in boats.
16. Dublin, Ireland
Photo by Julia Netto (via Bored Panda).
Little girls share a giggle in Dublin, Ireland.
17.Ifakara, Tanzania
Photo by Nana Kofi Acquah on Instagram.
Kids play football in Ifakara, Tanzania, using an old mosquito net as a goal. Photographer Nana Kofi Acquah writes “if there is any good thing about poverty it is the fact it forces people to be innovative. Malaria, the reason for which these bed nets exist, kills more children in Africa every year than Ebola, AIDS and many other diseases combined. The bed nets are chemically impregnated to repel and kill mosquitoes on contact. After a while however, it loses its efficacy but why throw it away when there is football to play?”
18. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Photo from Street Art Global, Tumblr.
A group of kids turn an abandoned car into a playground in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
19. Gaza City, Palestine
Photo by WissamGaza on Instagram.
Two girls play on swinging seats as the sun sets on Gaza Beach.
20. Indonesia
Photo by Gede Lila Kantiana.
Homemade stilts entertain children in Indonesia!
21. Malawi
Photo by Esther Havens for Charity: Water on Instagram.
A group of little girls dance in rural Malawi. Clean water in their community means they can stay healthy, with energy and smiles to enjoy being kids!
22. Bankok, Thailand
Photo by Ekkarat Punyatara on Instagram.
Finally, the result of too much playing - this little boy in Bankok was grounded as his auntie worked nearby after being a little too naughty!
As a Global Citizen, I believe that every child deserves a happy and healthy childhood, free from extreme poverty. Join the movement now if you agree!