On November 20, 2023, the World Forgotten Children Foundation (WFCF) generously contributed $6,300 USD to The Power of Play (TPOP). This substantial donation aimed to support the establishment of a sensory playground for the Nashipay Maasai Initiative school in Tanzania, a project with profound implications for the community.
The Nashipay Maasai Initiative school caters to a total of 374 students, with the broader community encompassing around 2,000 children. Among them, 297 children have been identified with various forms of disabilities. The introduction of a sensory playground, strategically designed to engage a child's senses of touch, sight, sound, and, in some instances, smell and taste, holds tremendous promise in addressing the unique needs of these 297 children.
Sensory playgrounds, with their ability to stimulate all the senses, offer children the opportunity to engage in play that encompasses touch, hearing, sight, smell, and more. In the meticulous design phase, it was recognized that some children in the community grapple with the loss of sight or hearing. Consequently, students from Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUD) and Guangdong University of Technology (GDUT) who were involved with designing the playground blindfolded themselves or covered their ears during play, fostering an exploration of alternative senses and contributing to the development of a compassionate and thoughtful design.
In ensuring the playground's accessibility, a deliberate effort was made to incorporate low-to-ground elements. Additionally, elements were carefully selected to be operable by children of all abilities. The sensory components were designed to transmit sounds without revealing the faces of the children involved, allowing those with visual impairment to engage in play while providing others with a glimpse into the experience of relying solely on auditory cues.
Various elements, such as textile components and special color patterns, were integrated to cater to different sensory experiences. Musical instruments were strategically placed, and areas were designated for children to dance in sand or engage in tactile play with clay-like sand. The overarching goal was to create an inclusive and enriching environment that fosters understanding, empathy, and joy for every child, regardless of their abilities.
Local children from Eco Boma village in Tanzania initially drew and expressed their idea for the design of the playground. From there, TPOP worked with ECUD and GDUT to design the playground. During this process, six teams competed for the best design.
The final design was unanimously chosen through blind votes cast by representatives from WFCF, TPOP, ECUD, GDUT, and the Maasai community elders. On December 5, 2023, Reza Marvasti of TPOP, accompanied by volunteers Ben and Sofia, embarked on a journey to the Nashipay Maasai Initiative school in Tanzania to initiate the construction of the playground.
With the assistance of WFCF, ECUD, and GDUT, TPOP successfully completed the project, which consists of sensory accessible play elements, conventional play elements, sport fields, shaded areas, and a dancing area. On December 17, 2023, TPOP held the grand opening of the playground, where the community came to the playground and the sports fields, played, danced, and had lunch.
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