The Power of Play has partnered with the students of Emily Carr University of Art + Design and the Guangdong University of Technology to design an innovative playground for sight- and hearing-impaired children at the Sivaraja Deaf and Blind School in Nattandiya, Sri Lanka. Students from the universities have gathered for a two-week workshop alongside local students from Sri Lanka to design a playground that is incorporating sensory play, is accessible, and is sustainable.
Children with visual and auditory impairments face many hardships in developing countries. Nattandiya is the third poorest district in Sri Lanka, a country in economic crisis. Parents are lining up for gas and there is increasing desperation as food costs soar. Amidst this are the children, who require time and space to play. Through play, kids gain confidence, skills, friendships, and self-awareness. $15k has been raised through parnters the Bliss Project.
The playground will not only help the 94 children of the Sivaraja Deaf and Blind School, but the nearby community, too, thus reaching more children. Playground elements will include natural surroundings to create hills and canals, integration of all five aspects of play, and sensory elements to stimulate the senses. This will enable the children to be kids, to realize their potential, and for the community to see the independence and confidence children gain from their playground experiences
Play is vital to a child's development. Building a playground for the kids in this community can decrease stress, heal emotional trauma, and foster both imagination and creativity. By using sustainable materials, we will also reduce the environmental impact of the project. Once completed, this playground will be a special place for the children to gain confidence in their abilities, learn to navigate their world and to rise above their individual challenges.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
