Play Around the World 2017
Welcome to Azadeh Abdolrazaghi's Personal Fundraising Page!
“Necessity may be the mother of invention, but play is certainly the father.” -Roger von Oech
As a future teacher, I am passionate about providing every child with the best learning possibilities. Children learn best through play and even learn to learn through play (O. Fred Donaldson). As a child I was given the different opportunities to grow and develop through attending sport classes, free play, and access to a variety of toys. I am very excited to be a part of the Play Around the World team in Fort Providence, NorthWest Territories to provide play opportunities for children and also learn from them about their culture, language and their way of learning.
Congratulations for being part of this endeavor and thank you very much in advance to support the Play Around the World team!
"Within the context that I worked, I can now say first hand, that play is universal. Language barriers and cultural differences, although important, do not get in the way of facilitating play. I have learned that play is a combination of people, ideas and desires, and it has changed my perspective on how it can be delivered, especially in a different cultural context." Anna Knight (Team Rayong 2015)
People of all ages and across all cultures experience play. It is an important activity that children do, to learn about themselves, others and the world around them. Play is recognized as a human right and is essential for a child's optimal growth and development. Pure play awakens the joyful, creative spirit in us all.
Play Around the World (PAW) is a service learning course offered by the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. Students from a variety of disciplines volunteer approximately 32 hours per week for 12 weeks where they gain valuable life skills, and broaden their worldview, living and working in a culture different from their own. Students will be facilitating play, recreation and sport in a variety of contexts and focus on the protection, promotion and provision of the Child's Right to Play (Article 31 UNCRC). Funds raised will enable students to participate and will directly benefit the agencies PAW serves. Thank you for visiting this campaign site and for your interest in Play Around the World. 
"My learning can be applied to a broader set of circumstances by simple changes and action in my own life. It is actions such as being generous and kind when others do not reciprocate those actions, leading with curiosity before judgment when not knowing the full story, and investing in people on a deeper level that will hopefully create small ripples to affect those around me." Meg Casault (Team Cambodia 2016)
Check out our: Photo Gallery
Thank you so much to all of our supporters that helped us reach our USEED goal of $20,000 in 30 days! Aukoun, Krup Khun Ka, Masi Cho, Gracias, Thank you. (Khmer, Thai, Dene, Spanish, English).
Each and every donation is appreciated toward supporting this learning journey for the student team, and thanks extend beyond our borders from the many organizations we serve, at home and abroad.
We will continue to post updates and encourage you to follow us on twitter @PAW_UAlberta or like our facebook page www.facebook.com/UofAplayaroundtheworld for more information on the student team, events and other news!
In May, our team will disperse to our four partner locations around the world to live and learn and immerse themselves in the culture of the county and people. The team welcomed guests this week at our regular meeting to talk about culture, creating a respectful positive space to learn about history, religion, economics and personal experiences in the various cities/countries. We aim to increase our intercultural competencies, specifically through: 1) adapting to cultural differences 2) appreciating multiple perspectives 3) behaving appropriately in another cultural context.
We also enjoyed practicing the various languages as well; Khmer for Cambodia, Thai for Thailand, Spanish for Peru, and Dene for the Northwest Territories. Each team led a game activity in their respective language to practice our new skills!
"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct" Carl Jung
Over the last week the team has been very busy learning about free play and playday planning. In our last class, Taylor Seal (PAW alumni and Program Management Committee Playday Chair) and Tracy Simon (2017 leader) presented on free play and how to facilitate child-directed play. Students learned that play leaders should not dictate children's play, but rather extend the child’s play to ensure their play is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated. We also explored our role in protecting, preserving and promoting the child’s right to play as stated in the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
During the second part of the meeting, the focus was on local playday preparations. A playday is an event that provides unique and playful opportunities for children. On January 28th Play Around the World (PAW) partnered with the Glenora Child Care Society to run a free-play station at their annual winter carnival. We had a few PAW alumni team up with some of this year's team to volunteer as play leaders for the day. The 2017 PAW team will be facilitating the Family Day play activities at Churchill Square on Monday, February 20th, 2017. We hope you are able to join us there from 12:00pm - 4:00pm for this free public event. These playdays provide a wonderful opportunity for students to put play theory into practice!
This past Sunday, February 5th, 2017, the King and I Thai Cuisine Restaurant hosted a fundraising dinner for Play Around the World. We shared a wonderful meal, during which guests were able to meet the team and learn more about the program. Thank you to everyone who came out to join us for a wonderful evening of great conversation, laughter and delicious Thai food!
Hello from PAW Team 2017 - this is the team of 15 students and 4 leaders preparing for their service-learning experience (photo is missing Mary Ann and Heather - PAW Admin but part of this team!). The team will divide and travel in May 2017 to 4 different counties to advocate for every Child's Right to Play (UNCRC).
Our weekly preparation class focuses on a variety of topics as we gather in the interdisciplinary PAW learning community. Recently we have been talking about how to adapt physical activities and play for children of all abilities. We have challenged our assumptions about disability, critically thought about our attitudes and experiences, and engaged in meaningful dialogue. Our Faculty's own Dr. Joanna Auger (Adapted Physical Activity Lecturer) led us through practical scenarios from the four country locations (Peru, Cambodia, Thailand, Northwest Territories), as inspired by the leadership team's real-world experience.
Together the team created positive and creative solutions to modify activities for a number of contexts which could enable optimal participation in play for all children. We found that we don't have all the answers (big surprise!) but the open dialogue created exciting possibilities for further exploration of the topic. While there will definitely be upcoming challenges that will be hard to anticipate, we have begun the conversation and continue to work through how to be inclusive in a community service-learning context in cultures different than our own.
Heather Crowe
Mary Ann Rintoul
Joel Johnston
Erica Van Kuppeveld
Tracy Simon
Svetlana Olimpiev
Kiersten Jackman
Sonora Bohaychuk
Emily Elkins
Shelby Bussiere
Jorell Mendoza
Alyssa Montefresco
Zianna Esmail
Hannah Schulte
Brady Hughes
Morgan Weir
Monique MacFarlane
Joanne Walczak
Azadeh Abdolrazaghi
Hayley Kaczanowski
Brooke Bablitz
Carla Rourke
Gave $40.00
Kim MacFarlane
Gave $100.00
Theresa Warawa
Gave $40.00
Steven Warawa
Gave $40.00
Avril Warren
Gave $50.00
Amber Jones
Gave $64.00
Caroline Seguin
Gave $50.00
Andrea Silvestri
Gave $100.00
Jodi MacFarlane
Gave $100.00
Amber Nealon
Gave $100.00
Rhonda Stubban
Gave $75.00
Justin Lentz
Gave $50.00
Brent & Rita Schulte
Gave $300.00
Rhonda Bablitz
Gave $100.00
Chris Schulte
Gave $100.00
Colton Klein
Gave $50.00
Dave and Rhonda Bablitz Rainbow Red Angus
Gave $100.00
Dwayne and Joanne Emery
Gave $100.00
Agnes and Michael Mattson
Gave $100.00
Kasia Nicewicz
Gave $30.00
Kevin Lentz
Gave $100.00
Clark and Diane Fawcett
Gave $100.00
Bonar and Joan Hanson
Gave $250.00
Joanne Dion-Bailey
Gave $100.00
Kate Holt
Gave $100.00
Jane Vallentyne
Gave $100.00
Trey Lutyck-Neufeld
Gave $65.00
Erin Haaland
Gave $25.00
Frankie Daoust
Gave $25.00
Joanne Greenland
Gave $65.00
Sharon Hughes
Gave $50.00
Joanne Hughes
Gave $500.00
Pearl Plitt
Gave $100.00
ROBYN BEST
Gave $50.00
Vilma Estiller
Gave $50.00
Crystal Thomas
Gave $200.00
Wayne Poon
Gave $50.00
Joelle Fawcett-Arsenault
Gave $100.00
Krystin Turcotte
Gave $50.00
Lise Bussiere
Gave $100.00
Emma Barvich
Gave $5.00
Janisa Aubin
Gave $20.00
Neil & Sharon Schulte
Gave $50.00
Melissa Macfarlane
Gave $50.00
Shara Brochu
Gave $50.00
Aashif Esmail
Gave $100.00
Sue Aubin
Gave $100.00
Stacy Jackman
Gave $25.00
john schulte
Gave $100.00
Rosemarie Jackman
Gave $50.00
Danielle Favreau
Gave $50.00
Elvira Walczak
Gave $200.00
Paul Donahue
Gave $50.00
Jack Pethybridge
Gave $25.00
Cynthia PYDE
Gave $200.00
Martin Barczyk
Gave $100.00
Yashmina Esmail
Gave $100.00
Renee Klimosko
Gave $200.00
Travis Hughes
Gave $250.00
Asuncion Mendoza
Gave $80.00
Daisy Townshend
Gave $100.00
Butch Berdusco
Gave $50.00
Kristie McCullough
Gave $20.00
Stephen Molesky
Gave $20.00
Tim Coates
Gave $100.00
Valerie Bohaychuk
Gave $250.00
Meghan Fraser
Gave $25.00
Caitlin Croft
Gave $65.00
Michael Weir
Gave $300.00
Roman Himsl
Gave $100.00
John Benson
Gave $250.00
Ali Gibbon
Gave $50.00
Amanda Beaumont
Gave $100.00
Herb Hartshorne
Gave $100.00
Jeanne Commance
Gave $50.00
Rosemarie Brennan
Gave $100.00
dawn-nica mathieson
Gave $100.00
Shari Hanson
Gave $100.00
Denise S
Gave $100.00
Janine Helland
Gave $50.00
Courtnwy Scott
Gave $50.00
Josef Rieder
Gave $100.00
Tammy Lutz
Gave $50.00
Amanda Gigliotti
Gave $50.00
Greg Leeti
Gave $25.00
Marilyn Noble
Gave $100.00
Jason Bossert
Gave $100.00
Mary Tetlock
Gave $25.00
Lois Byers
Gave $100.00
Donna Lloyd
Gave $50.00
Mary Anne & Hank Marcello
Gave $25.00
Salman Ahmed
Gave $25.00
Jessica Chiu
Gave $100.00
Patty Elkins
Gave $500.00
Kathy Grant
Gave $75.00
cyrille chabot
Gave $100.00
Peter Brown
Gave $50.00
Jeremy Janes
Gave $100.00
Richard Benson
Gave $500.00
Brenda Sallis
Gave $100.00
Heather Rymut
Gave $100.00
Andy Berube
Gave $50.00
Martin Chabot
Gave $500.00
Charlene Knight
Gave $200.00
Terry Rozak
Gave $50.00
Jeff Stewart
Gave $25.00
Larry Gusse
Gave $50.00
Kendra Sorensen
Gave $80.00
melanie basso
Gave $50.00
Graham, Rebecca & Sloane Schulte
Gave $100.00
Tracy Gardner
Gave $25.00
Tom Hinch
Gave $100.00
Tom Hinch
Gave $100.00
Clodagh Domegan
Gave $100.00
Colleen Allen
Gave $120.00
John Elkins
Gave $50.00
Jo-Anne Stewardson
Gave $100.00
Heather Campbell
Gave $50.00
Patsy Ippolito
Gave $25.00
Darla Masterson
Gave $25.00
Debbie Wells
Gave $31.24
Andrew Day
Gave $25.00
Christina Brennan
Gave $250.00
Sandra Watson
Gave $200.00
Heather Steen
Gave $50.00
Alain Bussiere
Gave $100.00
Dawn Jones
Gave $100.00
Chelsey Bigelow
Gave $50.00
Marc Potvin
Gave $100.00
Ayaz Bhanji
Gave $50.00
Marek Gwozdz
Gave $200.00
Daniel Fournier
Gave $150.00
Sandra Fournier
Gave $150.00
Solange Bohaychuk
Gave $500.00
Crystal Johnson
Gave $100.00
Chris Himsl
Gave $200.00
Heather Himsl-Holowatiuk
Gave $50.00
Tammy Gobeil
Gave $100.00
Susan Green
Gave $100.00
Moe Charania
Gave $50.00
SJ Savrtka
Gave $100.00
Doris Catellier
Gave $65.00
Lois Hunt
Gave $100.00
Dallas Ansell
Gave $100.00
Susan Mattson
Gave $100.00
Grant Schulte
Gave $100.00
Mikel Jackman
Gave $50.00
Natalie Potvin
Gave $100.00
Patti Reid
Gave $50.00
Breana, Greg, Paislee & Everly Schulte
Gave $50.00
Kathleen Ryan
Gave $250.00
Brigitte Lesko
Gave $25.00
Bailey Sallis
Gave $30.00
Helen Urlacher
Gave $200.00
Angie Allen
Gave $50.00
Joe Dotto
Gave $500.00
Matthew Edmonds
Gave $50.00
Caleigh Shaw
Gave $50.00
Shayna McCord-Dupusi
Gave $50.00
Jodi Clark
Gave $50.00
Michael Elkins
Gave $54.63
Nicolette Desmarais
Gave $10.00
Shelby Bussiere
Gave $25.00
Jessica Dargis
Gave $20.00
Alexandra Kirincic
Gave $100.00
Paul Racz
Gave $5.00
Jennifer Rheaume
Gave $25.00
35 supporters have chosen not to be listed for "Play Around the World 2017".
Make an Impact
Play Equipment
Give $5
Skipping Ropes, Chalk, Pool Noodles, and Balls of all types! All equipment will be left with our PAW partners in Asia, Peru and Northern Canada.
Transportation
Give $15
A tuk tuk, song teow or bus ride to agency site.
Play Day Station
Give $25
Help us buy all the materials needed to successfully run one station at a playday! Station examples include: Boxes, Blocks and Building, Science Zone, Water Play and Active Games.
Language Lessons
Give $50
One team language lesson during the in-country placement.
Play space project
Give $65
A gift of this amount can help turn a space into a play place for children (field, tarmac, playground, sensory play room, indoor multipurpose space...).
Translation services or a field trip for kids
Give $100
Translated resources to leave with partner agencies overseas or a field trip/outing for the children.
Parachute
Give $250
Help provide a brightly coloured, lightweight nylon Parachute! When children work cooperatively to make the parachute billow, they also refine perceptual motor skills and develop a sense of rhythm.
Flight
Give $500
Contribute to the cost of sending one student to their destination
