This project was carried out in Idaman Apartment in Damansara Damai, Selangor by a group of six Community-Engaged Arts (CEA) trainees of diverse backgrounds. During the training session from May - July 2020, the trainees conducted a thorough baseline study and mapping of the play spaces within the area and interviewed various stakeholders including representative of Toy Libraries Malaysia, Idaman Apartment Joint Management Committee and Residents’ Association.

Based on the findings from the baseline study and interviews, the objectives of the project were to design a programme that could re-activate the Toy Library as a community play space and to put in place a management system that could be child-led. This includes reactivation of the nearby play spaces: Open Court & Epic Gym which were in disrepair and under-utilised. The key participants in this project are a group of children aged 10-15 years old.  

Using arts education pedagogical approach and its different tools, the trainees aimed to upskill and hone leadership qualities among the young participants in terms of games they could play in all three sites, while also nurturing mentorship and promoting a shared responsibility among the young participants. The activities were conducted through a series of approximately 11-15 planned weekly sessions (4 hours per session).

The key stakeholders (Toy Libraries Malaysia, Joint Management Committee, Resident’s Association, and Epic Gym) were also actively involved throughout the project as enablers and to sustain the initiative of the young participants. 

The first few sessions with the participants were about identifying their skills and mapping all the play spaces. They were divided into 3 groups to focus on each play space: Toy Library, Open Court and Epic Gym, respectively.

The participants presented the SWOT (analysis) findings of their play spaces and identified areas for improvement. They worked in teams to brainstorm ideas and solutions. Creative approaches like game design, theatre, and storytelling were used to conduct this session. 

In a larger group, the participants designed and built a Snake & Ladder game to translate their findings from each site into one big human-sized board game with guidance and support from the trainees. The key contents of the board game are qualities of good leadership and the importance of teamwork.

TOY LIBRARY

This play space focuses on reactivation and to put in place a management system that is child-led. With help from the trainees, the participants reorganized and cleaned the space and discovered new toys and new ways of playing with the toys. Each toy was labelled and frequently sanitised. They also created a logbook and toy inventory system. Profile of each participant was created and put up on the Toy Library Malaysia Website and Facebook page.

OPEN COURT

A barrier was constructed by the participants using materials found in Toy Library to limit the parking motorcycles. 

EPIC GYM

With guidance from the trainees, the participants recorded an instructional video (a step-by-step visual instruction) on the correct usage of, and promotion of safe practices with the equipment. Play circuit obstacles course competition was also designed and carried out for the Idaman youth residents. 

Idaman Apartment now has a fully child-led Library System where the young participants facilitate games for and with peers, manage the administration and upkeep as librarians, a detailed instruction on how to play and use the equipment at Epic Gym and an understanding among the residents of Idaman to make space for the children at Open Court.

JOM PLAY: OUTREACH DAY

In November 2020, the trainees organized an outreach day called Jom Play, which allowed the participants to exhibit, share and perform their newly gained skills with adults. Stakeholders were engaged and awareness for the challenges at the sites was raised as well as renewed interest in the sites’ upkeep and usage. Stakeholders had some key takeaways based on the implementation of the project, namely, Madam Wong, President of Toy Libraries Malaysia realised that programming (content) is crucial for the sustainability of a project, which is not confined to the infrastructure merely.

The participants gained new skills and were able to pass on the knowledge and skills learned to children outside through mentorship. They gained confidence and trust through dealing with the stakeholders. Using SWOT analysis, they were able to present their findings and report or update to the relevant stakeholders.

The team of trainees concluded that to build a stronger foundation for a more sustainable project, developing leadership qualities of children and child mentors who could share their knowledge and skills with the participant group was vital. Promoting a sense of shared ownership over the space by both children and adults was also a key component of a community-engaged arts project.

Trainees: Abdul Shakir Abu Samah, Firdaus Nisha Muhammad Faizal, Elaine Foster, Ali Alasri, Jeannie Low Yen Leng, Ili Nazurah Khairul Anuar.

Reported by: Nurul Shahira Jamalluddin, Radziah Othuman Sahib

Edited by: Tan Lay Cheng, Chen Yoke Pin

This initiative is made possible with our Community Partner, Yayasan Hasanah.

Supported by Toy Libraries Malaysia, Joint Management Committee and Resident Association of Idaman Apartment

[Read also: Community-Engaged Arts Training: Building Capacity, Fostering Community]