Mission to Kenya marks the 15th for Spin
Master, totaling 450,000 toys delivered to displaced and
disadvantaged children
TORONTO, March 8, 2019 /CNW/ - Spin Master Corp.
(TSX:TOY; www.spinmaster.com), in partnership with Save the
Children (www.savethechildren.ca), continues to inspire change
through the Toy Movement (www.thetoymovement.org) with its
15th mission, this time delivering new toys and GUND
teddy bears to children in Kenya.
Formed in 2014, the Toy Movement has completed missions in
Mexico, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, South
Africa, Nicaragua, and
Iraq bringing the magic of play to
children.
"Our goal for the Toy Movement is to help kids be kids, no
matter where they live," said Ronnen
Harary, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Spin Master. "Children
are great equalizers, full of an abundance of imagination, spirit
and innocence. Unfortunately, children faced with conflict or war
are being deprived of the basic benefits and joy of play,
negatively impacting their lives and generations to come. Through
the Toy Movement, we can ensure these children have the chance to
experience the joy of play."
Since 2017, Spin Master and Save the Children have partnered to
bring toys to children in emergency situations around the globe.
The most recent mission to the Dadaab refugee camp in rural
Kenya includes executive leaders
and employees from both Spin Master and Save the Children,
delivering over 50,000 toys and GUND teddy bears to children living
in the camp and host communities.
"This was an emotional and heart-wrenching journey to the Dadaab
refugee camp for the Spin Master team members and the Save the
Children staff," said Anton Rabie,
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Spin Master. "While on the ground in
Kenya, we witnessed the
complexities of life for children living in these camps. Subjected
to violence, hunger and many other threats, these children don't
have much opportunity to experience the joy of play. Many have
never seen or received a toy, and it was a truly magical moment to
see the smile on their faces amidst such harsh conditions."
The innovative partnership is also addressing a critical gap in
services for children affected by crisis through providing 'Child
Friendly Spaces' that allow children to learn, play and recover
from the trauma they have experienced in a safe environment. The
toys are providing an avenue for children to express their emotions
and facilitate conversations with psychosocial support workers.
"Save the Children is pleased to continue our partnership with
Spin Master to protect the wellbeing of children in crisis with the
gift of play," said Bill Chambers,
President and CEO of Save the Children. "Together, we are advancing
the fundamental right to play for children in areas of political
conflict and unrest, aiding in their learning and development and
ultimately giving kids the chance to just be kids. Something that
is so simple, but often overlooked as an inherent right in conflict
and crisis settings."
Kenya is now the second biggest
refugee-hosting country in Africa
after Ethiopia. As of December 31, 2018, there were 471,724 registered
refugees and asylum-seekers in Kenya, 54% of those are between the ages of
0-17.1
Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to
children through developmental and humanitarian relief programs.
Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights
governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and
water, sanitation and hygiene.
Visit http://www.thetoymovement.org/ or follow us on Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram @spinmaster and www.savethechildren.ca or
follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @savechildrencan.
B-roll is available upon request.
ABOUT SPIN MASTER
Spin Master (TSX: TOY; www.spinmaster.com) is a leading global
children's entertainment company that creates, designs,
manufactures, licenses and markets a diversified portfolio of
innovative toys, games, products and entertainment properties. Spin
Master is best known for award-winning brands including Zoomer®,
Bakugan®, Erector® by Meccano®, Hatchimals®, Air Hogs® and PAW
Patrol®. Since 2000, Spin Master has received 103 Toy of the Year
(TOTY) nominations with 28 wins across a variety of product
categories, including 13 TOTY nominations for Innovative Toy of the
Year. To date, Spin Master has produced eight television series,
including the recently re-launched Bakugan Battle Brawlers and
current hit PAW Patrol, which is broadcast in over 160 countries
and territories globally. Spin Master has 28 offices and employs
over 1,700 people globally in Canada, United
States, Mexico,
France, Italy, United
Kingdom, Russia,
Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Sweden, the
Netherlands, China,
Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, and Australia.
ABOUT SAVE THE CHILDREN
Save the Children is the world's leading independent
organization for children, delivering programs and improving
children's lives in more than 120 countries worldwide, including
Canada. We save children's lives.
We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. We
believe that all children have the right to survive, learn, and be
protected, and we will do whatever it takes to reach every last
child. Our programs reached more than 49 million children in
2017.
_______________________________
|
1
|
The UN Refugee Agency
https://www.unhcr.org/ke/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/01/Kenya-Infographics_December-2018.pdf
|
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spin-master-and-save-the-children-partner-to-bring-the-toy-movement-to-refugee-children-in-kenya-300808993.html
SOURCE Spin Master