The Problem/ Need
Article 31 of the UN ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child:
“The Right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child”.’
The importance of sports, play and extracurricular activities is often an understated part of a child’s development. UNICEF states that play allows children to explore, create and invent. It is through this that they are able to develop their social skills, ways of thinking, learn how to deal with emotions and their own physical capabilities. The fun that children have through sports, play and extracurricular activities has a great impact on children whose lives are difficult. Across East African there are millions of children who lack safe and fun play spaces and equipment which can hamper their development. East African Playgrounds aims to change this by working alongside local people and Non Government Organisation’s to identify the most suitable schools and communities for us implement the following projects with.
What we do
Playgrounds
We provide high quality, safe and fun playgrounds and play spaces. Each playground we build uses the local materials along with a couple of specialist parts from the UK. We have a fully trained and experience team of Ugandan playground builder who construct each playground to the age specifications and requirements of the children at the school. We have teams of UK volunteers who alongside the local community and teachers provide the labour to erect the playgrounds. Once each playground is built the local community is responsible for the upkeep, with help from a twice yearly check from our EAP team. These playgrounds create a safe fun place for children to play and learn during their free time.
Sports training program
“Through participation in sport children (a) develop physical skills that can contribute to a lifetime of physical involvement; (b) improve fitness; (c) learn social and emotional skills; (d) develop moral values; and (e) acquire a better sense of self through increased perceived competence, self-esteem and self confidence. However, the development of these competencies does not occur automatically. The actions of coaches and parents determine whether or not youth acquire these positive aspects of sport.”
Gatz. M (2002) Paradoxes of Youth and Sport New York state University
Margaret Gatz of New York state University explains that it is the actions of parents and coaches that determine whether a child can gain positive experiences from sport. We have designed our sports training programs with this in mind. Firstly, we enter into an agreement with the school and the local community that commits at least one teacher and one parent to be present at each days training session. Then we provide the school with complete sets of kits and equipment for playing the three main primary school sports; Football, Netball and Volleyball. As coaching is such a vital part of sports EAP uses qualified Ugandan coaches to run each session. These session have two aims, firstly they coach the children, but more importantly, for the longevity of the project, the coaches train the parent and teacher on good coaching practices within each sport.
Arts programs
Eric Erickson author of ‘Childhood and society’, states that through art creativity children develop many skills, such as thinking, feeling, relating and coordinating skills. Due to these great benefits children can gain from creating their own art during our art programs.
We work alongside local artists and use local materials as well as materials brought over from the UK. The clubs are held weekly and allow all the children to try out different materials and techniques. At the end of the first month, we hold an art gallery where they will display their work and use their skills and creativity to paint a Muriel on their school walls. The child’s art will then be a valuable, personal resource to be admired and inspiring every day.