State Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and in the arts.
-Article 31, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Even in countries such as the Philippines, a signatory to the now internationally recognized pact on children’s rights, many still equate children’s rights with basic needs—name and nationality, food, care, clothing, shelter, education, safety and security, among others.
Yet, there are other rights all children can claim. As Article 31 states, aside from what are generally considered “basic needs,” children’s rights include having time, exposure, and access to recreational space, culture, and the arts.
Woods and Books will provide the opportunity for children to have access to an area for play and learning. The open and undisturbed playscape will provide rest and recreational space and the library will provide materials, equipment, and activities that not only enhance literacy, but also promote art and culture.
