Children fight for playground in overcrowded city.

Tension in a crowded city...

What do children do when there is simply not enough space to play?

This blog is devoted to Patras, Alexandra, Vlad and Chrysa. Three valiant children from the over crowded city of Patras, Greece. Patras has been almost entirely built over leaving only small nooks and crannies to play. After years of being abused, told off and shoo’ed away by the other locals who just want peace and quiet these 4 decide to take matters into their own hands. Over more than a year the children lobby to meet with the mayor to ask for a playspace where they wont have to fight for their right to play.

Will the children succeed? click below…

some beautiful quotes from the children in response to being told to play on the computer instead of being noisy (playing) in the street. “You surf the internet from noon until midnight and finally go to bed and what have you gained. NOTHING with capital letters….. But, when you play football its a laugh, you argue, score goals, you feel happy when you win and sad when you lose, you do excercise without realising it. it does you good. you make friends and get closer to them. Football is great, Internet is crap.”

I am not sure I completely agree but I think this is a beautiful summary of the importance of play in a childs life.

This 20 min shortened report of ” The game must go on” was aired on BBC world news 27.06.2010 and I would love to speak with the makers of the full feature film to use it for a fundraiser night.

Here is the trailer.