Making children-inspired playgrounds everywhere: A case study of the creation of the playground using recycled materials at Kampala School for Physically Handicapped, Uganda
Abstract
Fred Rogers said that:
Play gives children to practice what they are learning
As an art educator and playground artist, I believe all children deserve safe places to place and learn. It might seem like play is free in all places of the world but the state at which children can access play while growing up in developing world with political, ecological and economic factors is alarming. This is due to the shortage of playgrounds to learn and play in and even harder to find playgrounds that are all-inclusive. Children with physical disabilities find it much harder to access play in some African societies due to stigma and poverty. Also, environmental challenges like damping non-biodegradable and waste management are poignant issues in the mushrooming urban areas. Is there a possibility of solution such community problem of lack of play and waste at once to create awareness?
This study’s main objective was to build a playground together with Ugandan children with both physical and mental disabilities in order to investigate how inclusion and participation can create sustainable solutions targeting learning outcomes and human dignity within the education system. The creation of a playground inspired by the children’s ideas and their participation led to a design process using recycled materials picked from the environment at the Kampala School of Physically Handicapped schools in Uganda.
The main findings of the study show that in general, Children who are the end users of the playgrounds need to be engaged by planners or playground makers to provide new ideas that are child centered and more engaging. Children with disabilities are labeled and stigmatized by the society yet deserve same equal opportunities to play and be children thus this research is part of raising their voice.
Description
Master i yrkespedagogikk