Some 900 children from 10 villages in Constanta, south-east Romania, were able to set aside their daily hardships and isolation to simply play and interact when the SOS Toys Car visited them last week.

'Therapy through play', also known as 'ludotherapy' gave the children aged 4-18 years a rare chance to freely express their thoughts, feelings and skills and play with toys that they had never seen before.

Aside from small kindergarten landscaped gardens, most of Constanta's villages don't have any space set aside for children's activities. Even popular Community Cultural Centers where community celebrations take place are neglected and dysfunctional. For hundreds of children, the schoolyard is the only place where they can meet each other to play a game or talk.

The special event organised by SOS and World Vision was hailed an overwhelming success, despite the summer heat.

'Between the computer and such fun, I will always choose the fun. It would be perfect if someone could organise a similar event for us every weekend', said Dumitru Gheorghe, 10, from Cumpana village.

'I liked the fishing game and other boys' games. And it was awesome to be (face) painted as a lion', said Eamen Semiral, a fifth grade student from Ciocarlia de Sus Village.

A six-year-old boy with a disability from Fantanele village who is typically very uncommunicative and uninterested in social interaction thrived as he played with the toys and other children. And, despite their initial disinterest, even youth aged 14-17 joined in the fun.

'It was extraordinary that the children socialised together in groups. Rarely do we succeed in attracting the younger and older children together, to be attentive, receptive and work in the same rhythm. It was a new experience for them', said Georgeta Ciobanu, a World Vision community worker from Cogealac village.

'Such an event is very good and useful for all the children, because it offers them the chance to escape from our common suburbs. If this could be organised more frequently, the summer period would pass easier for them', said Maria Vasil, a grandmother from Ciocarlia de Sus village, who took her six grandsons to the Toys Car.

'Children from rural communities are very obedient, receptive and love the stories. They are enthusiastic and want to have fun. And, after we finish activities, they help us to pick up the toys and put them into the car, even if it is very difficult for them to leave them', said Ioana Teodorescu, SOS Toys Car Project coordinator.

SOS Toys Car worked with World Vision in 2003, when the car visited just four rural communities from Constanta County. This year, World Vision community workers mobilised school personnel from 10 rural communities to advertise the event. Teachers, school directors and parents got involved in the children's play and are planning to address the need for similar activities in their communities.

'We would like to replicate this model and organise similar events in coordination with schools at least once a month', said Maria Ion, World Vision 'Feed the children from Viisoara' Project coordinator.

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