It’s a Toy Library

PHUKET: With the aim of developing children’s imaginations, emotional responses and social skills, the Phuket Community Foundation (PCF) and Phuket International Hospital (PIH) will be opening the island’s first toy library at the end of July.

The PCF is appealing for donations of new and secondhand toys in good condition and it is hoped that, in time, a series of “toy libraries” will be open throughout Phuket.

Space for the toy library has been made available with the assistance of Kreetha Saetan and officers of Wichit Municipality, which will provide a caretaker to look after the center and keep an eye on the children.

The pilot toy library, for children aged 4 to 10 years, will open at the Child Center at Wat Thepnimit on Chao Fa East Rd, Wichit, on July 28.

Rien van Ghent, Executive Director of the Netherlands-based Van Leer Group Foundation, a Founder Doner to the PCF, will chair the opening ceremony.

Initially, children will not be allowed to take toys from the center. However, the goal is to allow children to borrow toys from the library and take them home, exactly as they would with books from a conventional library.

The toy library will be open daily from 7 am to 8:30 am, from 11.30 am to 12:30 pm, and from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

Toys may be dropped off at the PIH reception desk or given to PIH Marketing Manager Piyarat Kulvanich or any member of her team.

Naturally, a constant flow of donated toys will be required to replace those that break or wear out. Commitments from donors willing to underwrite a replacement program are also welcome.

For more information, contact PCF Office Manager Jeerapat “Ann” Muadtip (Tel: 084-4428004, Email: info@phuketcf.org) or Ajarn Pranee Sakulpipatana (Tel: 081-6933576, Email: pranee81@yahoo.com).