charlotte Booth-Hulme
East African Playgrounds
Fundraising for Play Action International
Story
Who am I?
Hello i am Charlotte and I have been selected as a volunteer from the University of Hertfordshire to join a few other volunteers to go to Uganda next June for one month, and help make a difference to children that truly deserve it; but I need to raise £700 for the charity as well as money for getting out there!
Who are EAP?
East African Playgrounds is a UK registered charity that aims to change the lives of children across East Africa by developing children’s learning opportunities and environments. They work alongside local communities to build simulating and exciting playgrounds, run arts and games programs as well as developing long term employment and training opportunities for young people across East Africa.
Why playgrounds?
Every village and every town across the UK has a playground where children can relax, explore, create, socialise and have fun. Play is invaluable to a child’s health and well-being, and is vital to every child’s development. Children in Uganda just don’t have the same opportunity as children in the UK.
Most adults see play as a silly, frivolous activity that just exists to pass the time. However child’s play is more about exploring, learning, creating and inspiring which in turn develops a whole child: physically, emotionally, cognitively and socially.
By providing an environment that encourages unstructured play it encourages children to think for themselves thus gaining vital problem solving skills, which are often missing in classroom teaching due the rota teaching format adopted due to lack of resources, knowledge and inspiration from the teachers.
What the money goes towards
As a volunteer I need to raise money for flights, vaccinations, living expenses and all the rest so that I can get out there next June and help build a playground for children that don't have the privileges of an iPhone, laptop, internet, Xbox etc... but the most important part is raising £700 to go towards the charity itself. That particular £700 could include:
£20 = Games, Tyre Bench or Tyre motorbike
£40 = Play shop or Hammocks
£60 = Tyre swing or Play school
£80 = Tyre tunnel or low tyre bridge
£100 = Tyre trampoline, seating, music area or sand pit
£150 = Tyre den, sphere bridge
£180 = Raised tyre steps, pyramid tyre or seesaw
£200 = seesaw balancer or slide
£300 = A school's games pack
£350 = Small swing set
From cake sales at University to sponsored activities; I will be doing everything I can to raise the money I need to help the children of Uganda. But if you could contribute even £1 to the cause I would be so grateful, and so would the children out in Uganda.