“𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱. 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙.”

That’s the reality for far too many children in Uganda — where play is not a given, but a luxury.

Hi everyone 👋🏽 — I’m Tharshini, and this summer, my friend Zhuojun and I are volunteering with Play Action International in Uganda. For two weeks, we’ll be helping build safe, sustainable playgrounds for children who have never experienced the power of play.

Why playgrounds? Because play isn’t just fun — it’s fundamental.

According to UNICEF, more than 𝟰𝟯% 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, and many have limited access to education or safe outdoor spaces. Studies show that children facing such adversity often struggle with emotional regulation, resilience, and cognitive development. But 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁.

Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics underscores that 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺-𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, and 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴. In conflict-affected and low-resource settings, structured play helps children process trauma, regain a sense of normalcy, and connect with others.

That’s where 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 steps in. They’ve built over 𝟰𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, transforming schoolyards and refugee settlements into 𝗵𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴. Their work has reached more than 𝟮𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻, and they’ve been recognised by the UK Charity Awards for innovation and community impact.

✨ But we can’t do this alone. We’re aiming to raise £𝟯,𝟬𝟬𝟬 to make this journey possible:

£1,600 goes directly to the charity’s life-changing work

£1,400 supports our flights, visas, accommodation, and meals

🔗— 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁.

Imagine the laughter of a child swinging for the first time. The friendships forged in games. The confidence that grows from climbing, jumping, and creating.

Your donation doesn’t just build a playground — it builds futures.

Thank you for reading, and for helping us make play possible 💛

#EducationThroughPlay #GlobalVolunteering #ChildDevelopmentMatters