IPA RIGHT TO PLAY AWARD PROGRAM

Call for Submissions
This program was launched as “Article 31 Recognition Program” at the world summit in Melbourne, Australia in 1993. It was created to recognize projects that implement in innovate ways, Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Appropriate projects include activity programs, public awareness campaigns, media products, implemented national or local legislation, design of spaces, and design of play items.

There have been from 1 to 8 awards given at each of the triennial conferences since 1993. Irene Hogg, recipient of a Right to Play Award at the 17th Triennial IPA World Conference in Hong Kong (2008) said ‘ Winning an IPA Right to Play award has been a fantastic boost to our project. When we came home from Hong Kong with the news, it attracted local and national media attention and we were able to bring attention to our own project, to children’s rights and to IPA. All our staff, volunteers, funders and children were so pleased to see their efforts recognized in this way.’

The 18th Triennial Conference in Wales will celebrate IPA’s 50th Anniversary. It would be most fitting to see a record number of Right to Play Award submissions from as many IPA member countries as possible. Lets make this a banner conference for submissions. We look forward to your project!

To gain the award the following criteria must be met. There are 3 formats from which to choose from for submitting your project.

Criteria

• Submissions can be from organizations or individuals
• Both non-profit and for-profit organizations are eligible
• Projects must demonstrate how they protect, promote and/or improve the child’s right to play
• Projects must respect and/or enhance local culture
• Projects should not contradict any article of the UN Convention
• Projects that exist only on paper are not acceptable
• Projects must have been implemented and assessed, including the impact on the children in the community
• Projects can be replicated in other communities
• Only one submission is allowed per organization per venue
• Submissions must be in English
• Each submission must be accompanied by a letter of authorisation to exhibit by the sponsoring organisation

Formats
Acceptable submissions will be exhibited throughout the conference and may be presented in the following formats:

• Panels
  Up to three panels (self supporting), each panel no larger than 100cm x 100cm. All printed text should be clear and at least 1cm high. Table space (directly in front of middle panel) also available for display. Visual material that makes the project self-explanatory is helpful, especially for viewers with English as their second language.
• Media
  Slide, DVD, Power-Point, etc presentations. Contact Conference Secretariat for availability of equipment. It would be helpful if content could be ‘looped’ for continuous viewing, and that any printed matter be given time to be read by those who don’t have English as their primary language.
• Ringed Binder
  International ‘A4′ or letter size, 10 page maximum presentation. Clarity of print is important to accommodate those with English as a second language.

Web Site
It is IPA’s intention to place details of all accepted Right to Play Award projects on the IPA web site. Please provide a 100 word abstract and 1 or 2 photographs if available. The Communications Officer (Valerie Fronczek, ipacommunications@shaw.ca) can be contacted for advice on this.

Judging
Judging criteria will focus on innovations which implement Article 31. Submissions will be judged during the World Conference with strict regard given to the criteria above. The Submissions Form reflects those criteria. All submissions meeting the entry criteria will be exhibited at the conference. Those presented the “IPA Right to Play Award” will be put on the IPA Website.

Deadlines

• The IPA Right to Play Award Program Submission Form is to be sent to: Tom Jambor, 3400 Tal-Meadow Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35216, USA, and is to arrive no later than 1st April, 2011.
• Unaccompanied submissions should be sent to arrive between 1st and 30th June, 2011 to:
  • IPA 18th World Conference,
    Play Wales, Baltic House,
    Mount Stuart Square,
    Cardiff, Wales CF10 5FH
    Tel: (029) 2048 6050,
    Cymraeg: (029) 2043 6926,
    Fax: (029) 2048 9359.
    Contact person: Gill Evans, Email: gill@playwales.org.uk

Accompanied submissions to be exhibited may be brought to the conference in person on the first day of the conference.

Conference
Conference information can be found at www.playwales.org.uk

Right to Play Award Past Recipients

Year – Recipient
2008 – Irene Hogg