Since our son Lavin was born 3 years ago, I’ve come to appreciate the value of unstructured play, both as an opportunity for him to develop and for us to bond.  In fact, it’s during active play where I see his soul come alive and I see him research, learn and grow. Not every child in our world has that opportunity. 

We share the same birthday, November 6th. This year as I rapidly age towards 37 and he approaches 3; I’m battling the infamous mid-life / new father crisis!

I want to somehow instill in Lavin a notion that not all children are born with equal opportunities and for him to be grateful for all the opportunities he has. I’d like to role model an approach that values gratitude and servitude. 

I’ve joined forces with an organisation that has magically combined the enabling power of play to help vulnerable children with a humanitarian focus.

I’m heading to Kenya in a few weeks to take part in a special collaboration with Play Action International, a small UK based charity. Lavin and I will spend our birthday apart this year but in years to come, I hope he will see how much change a small group of committed people can make in this world.

“Play Action International’s mission is to create opportunities for disadvantaged children to learn, develop and heal through play. In Uganda, since 2009, Play Action International have supported over 500,000 children in Uganda through building playgrounds, facilitating play training, and promoting play based learning. This year they are expanding their offer to Kenya”

This fundraising campaign is to support the initial set-up costs of £24,000 for a 1-acre compound on the outskirts of Kisumu, Kenya. The site will host a new playground manufacturing workshop and guest house to accommodate future volunteers. 

In November for 12 days, I will join a team of volunteers who head out to Kenya to help build the premises and build the first playground at the adjacent Obwolo Primary School, enabling the launch of Play Action International in Kenya. I hope to build lasting relationships with the organisation to continue a legacy of continued projects, hopefully in the future taking out GPs in training with me or staff members I work with.  One junior staff member is joining me this year, I hope she enjoys it! 

We have a huge task on our hands. We will be covering the play equipment in 150+ litres of paint, mixing 15.5 tonnes of concrete, shifting 5 tonnes of soil and 150 truck tyres; transforming an empty field into a haven of play for children.

I hope you can spare a few quid to create opportunities for disadvantaged children in Kenya to learn, develop and heal through play. All donors will have their name on the Wall of Fame in the new workshop and for any donors that sponsor £500+ we will dedicate a part of the playground in their name eg: the swings or climbing frame. I will be wearing a t-shirt throughout with the logos of corporate sponsors. 

If you’ve continued to read this far, I really appreciate your time. I’d like to thank my wife Mathu who has to put up with my attention-deficit tendencies.  Couldn’t do any of this without her support.

Love to all.

Jan x