Playrise, a charity based in the U.K., is creating play structures for children in disaster-relief sites worldwide. At the Aysaita Refugee Camp in Ethiopia’s Afar region, approximately 40,000 Eritreans face daily struggles to meet basic needs. Among them are 10,000 children under the age of 10, for whom play is a crucial yet often overlooked necessity. In many refugee camps, the focus is understandably on providing essentials like food and shelter, leaving play as an afterthought. However, research highlights the importance of play in developing children’s motor and relational skills and serving as a therapeutic tool for those who have experienced trauma. Inspired by these findings, Playrise aims to address this gap by designing play structures that support the well-being and development of children in these challenging environments.
QUESTION: How might providing play opportunities in refugee camps change the lives of children living there?
This Lego-like playground kit is designed for children displaced by war
