Rwanda Power of Play – Co-design of 25 schoolyards
Project information
Year: 2018
Status: Construction Completed
Location: Rwanda, 25 locations
Surface: 25000 m2
Client: Right to Play Netherlands
Team: Insaf Ben Othmane Hamroumi, Renet Korthals Altes
Partners & Collaborators: Christian Karagire KARAA Architect
Partners & Collaborators: Right to Play, Jantje Beton
Description
Children as architects! Together with Right to Play & Jantje Beton we have initiated and collaboratively set up The Power of Play Project.
We developed a manual for teachers, a train the trainers manual and a co-design catalogue for the architects, to create a co-design workshop improving the schoolyards of 25 schools in Rwanda with and for the (at least 12.000) schoolchildren.
Challenge
An average of 750 children per school: high capacity durable elements necessary. International collaboration worked best when we jointly developed the manuals and when we conducted the trainings. Long distance guidance in simple multifunctional high capacity child-friendly design is challenging.
Process
The children of 25 schools were the primary architects: they mapped the location, interviewed their peers and the community, analysed the playground, and made the masterplans. We translated the children’s input into design of 30+ basic elements. Architects whom we have trained have made the final design combining of all our elements.
Result
Construction of the first 5 schools has started. First school has been succesfully constructed. Keep updated to see more results.