Carla Powell and Tom Gill, Founders and Directors, started East African Playgrounds in 2009 after spending several months working and travelling around East Africa. They were impressed with the community’s love for sports and the children’s ability to turn anything into a toy or football. However they saw that people’s enthusiasm for sports and play was not matched with facilities or resources. On returning back to the UK to finish their respective degree they decided to develop the idea that through UK volunteers they could provide schools in East Africa with the facilities, resources and training to give children the opportunity to benefit from sports and play.
In the following 2 years they developed relationships with UK Universities and East African Non Government Organisation’s that were in need and wished us to work with them. They also developed the Ugandan Playground building team and yard that is run by a Ugandan team. Within the first 3 years East African Playgrounds has built 10 playgrounds across East Africa which has given over 5,000 children access to fun and safe play facilities.
