Middle East Toy Fair to donate toys to the children of Palestine

"Children are paying a serious and heavy price due to the continuing conflict in Palestine. As a corporate entity we feel that more needs to be done to ensure that all the region's children are protected both from the direct and indirect influence of this dispute, and in our own way we are playing a part through this event to help the children," said Eckhard Pruy , Chief Executive Officer, EPOC Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

The activities run by C.I.E.LO are based on a network of community-based toy libraries located in public premises around the world (Latin America, Africa and the Middle-East); for the disadvantaged children and their families in urban areas. These entertainments and meeting places focus on the pleasure to play, stimulate curiosity, creativity and imagination, and strengthen interactions and family integration, while reinforcing the user's knowledge. The toy libraries are always managed by men and women living into the neighborhood duly trained at grass-roots levels as toy librarians.

In order to build personalities that will be able to take an active part in improving their living conditions, these toy libraries also encourage positive values such as respect, share, comradeship, solidarity, autonomy, tolerance and responsibility.

In addition, some of these toy libraries implement other human development actions such as street game festivals, mobile game trunks for isolated populations, promotion of traditional games and toys, game services for disabled children, education for sustainable development through gaming activities.

Mr. Eckhard Pruy added:

"We have voluntarily undertaken a variety of activities for the improvement of the working and living conditions of the local communities. At Epoc Messe Frankfurt, we embrace ethical business practices and create value for our stakeholders including shareholders, employees, customers, vendors, public authorities, NGOs, communities and the natural environment in which we operate,"

he stressed.

"We are a socially responsible business and have a purpose beyond merely making profits. We strive to accomplish the triple bottom line i.e. fiscal results, sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs, and greater social equity," Mr. Pruy concluded.

The Middle East Toy Fair is the region's largest and most influential trade exhibition for toys, baby and infant products, stationery and back-to-school products, games, hobbies, gifts, apparel and licensing. Product areas within the Toy Fair are Baby and Infant Middle East, as well as Stationery and Back-To-School Middle East. The specific areas will give visitors and exhibitors a place to source products and build new business relationships.

It is a unique platform for exhibitors to network with one another and meet major buyers, key industry players, and educators involved in the shaping of the Middle East toy market