Club 2/3, an organisation whose main activities are in education and international cooperation, is organising the 9^th annual International Contest for Toys made from reused materials. Young people from all countries are invited to roll up their sleeves and dig in their waste bins in order to create a masterpiece.

Since its inception, more than fifty thousand youth have participated in the contest, and thousands of toys have been sent to Club 2/3 from around the world. Motorcycles, planes, guitars, made from evaporated milk cans, cans and pop bottles, fish tins… each more original and ingenious than the next. The toys these youth created from reused materials never cease to amaze us!

Using the theme "The planet is at stake: it's up to us to be a player!", the toy contest sensitises young people to the importance of solidarity among peoples in the struggle for a healthy environment. By building a toy out of reused garbage, they are brought to think about and to promote the 6 Rs: to Reduce consumption, to Reuse goods, to Recycle, to Re-evaluate our value systems, to Restructure our economic systems and to Redistribute the world's resources.

Initiated by Jean-Pierre Denis, an education officer from Club 2/3 fascinated by the ingenuity of toys made by children from Burkina Faso, the contest has rapidly become an excellent educational tool. Moreover, by promoting the protection of the environment, this international contest values the creativity of youth and transmits realistic and positive images of people from the South. The ingeniousness and resourcefulness that has been proven by youth from the south in the creation of their toys is exemplary in inspiring young people from Quebec. The diversity of the materials used to build these toys also allows us to become aware of the interdependence between the countries in the South and North.

The toy, a universal theme, shows itself to be the element that brings together and builds bridges between young people throughout the world. It also allows youth to establish a dialogue on issues that concern them. In Quebec, the activity is open to all elementary schools and high schools as well as youth groups. There are three categories for participants aged: 6 to 9, 10 to 12, and 13 to 19. The toys that are made by a group of young people are favoured because teamwork and cooperation are essential components of development. Military toys are excluded because peace and solidarity are the credo at Club 2/3.

If you wish to participate this year, we suggest that you register now. Club 2/3 will provide you with all the material necessary. Please note that the deadline for toys to be received for the 9^th annual International Toy Contest is 20^th November 2000. The awards ceremonies will be held just before Christmas 2000 at the Montreal Biodome.

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