IMPROVING PLAY OPPORTUNITIES & SPACES FOR CHILDREN in the Rancharda community in Gujarat, India

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Location: India

78.75%
£4725.22 Donated of £6000
20 Donations
53 Days left
Fundraising ends on 31 March 2025
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Project Details

INTRODUCTION:

At RockStone & Pebbles (RSP) charity (Registration number 1177973), we’re passionate about making play a reality for children everywhere. Not only is play every child's human right it is also a critical part of childhood development; through play, children build friendships, discover their creativity, and develop the skills they need to thrive. Help us bring the gift of play to more children around the world and make a lasting impact on their lives. #PlayMatters

We are raising funds for our second project in the Rancharda community of Gujarat, India, a vulnerable area with limited resources. The project will take place between November 2024 and January 2025. Building on the success of the first project (in 2023), we will be expanding our efforts to enhance play opportunities and spaces for children aged 5-10 in four schools in this community.

For this second project we have set a larger budget of £12,000. 50% of this (£6,000) has already been raised by RSP but we still need to raise the remaining 50% to reach our target. Every drop counts and whether you can donate a small or a larger amount it will greatly support the work we are doing, so we're counting on your support and to help us spread the word to raise the remaining £6,000 in the coming months!

EXPANDING OUR IMPACT: PHASE 2

Enhancing Play Opportunities and Spaces

In this phase, we will focus on creating vibrant and engaging play opportunities and spaces, and on continuing to build awareness and engagement on the importance of and right to play, and building impetus in this community to facilitate more play in children's lives:

- Innovative play structure: With the expertise of a dedicated architect, we will introduce an original, interactive play structure at one of the schools and enhance their playground space.

- Hands-on activities: Like we did in the first project, we will organize activities such as mural painting and floor games, involving children to actively participate in transforming their own play spaces.

- Play activities: We will also facilitate play activities such as ice-breakers, playing with paper mache, and more.

More memorable play day trips

During the first project in 2023, we took 400 children from three different schools to Science City in Ahmedabad for a fun, interactive learning experience. This time, we plan to focus on a younger group of students from other schools in the same community.

Raising Awareness

We believe that understanding the importance of play is crucial for long-term community support:

- Awareness campaigns: We will engage with schools and community members to build awareness on the right to play (Article31 UNCRC) and the importance of play in childhood development.

Strengthening Community Ties

These initiatives are designed not only to benefit the children but also to foster stronger bonds within the community:
- Community involvement: By inviting local residents to participate in our activities, we aim to build a shared commitment to the project’s success.
- Support for children’s well-being: These events will provide opportunities for families and community members to connect, learn, and celebrate the joy of play together.

WHAT WE DID IN 2023 IN OUR FIRST PLAY PROJECT IN THIS COMMUNITY:

Two RSP trustees visited the Rancharda Community in Gujarat with a mission to create a vibrant, engaging play environment for the children in this community. During this visit, we transformed an outdoor play area at one of the local schools, working hand-in-hand with the schoolchildren to:

- Paint colourful wall murals to enhance their play space.
- Create interactive floor games to promote fun and active learning.
- Convert an unused room into a dedicated playroom, offering a safe indoor space for children to play and learn.

Enhancing Safety and Accessibility

In addition to the aesthetic and functional improvements, we invested in essential construction work to ensure the play space was:
- Safer: Addressing structural concerns to create a secure environment for play.
- More accessible: Making adjustments to accommodate all children, ensuring everyone can enjoy the benefits of the improved play area.

Community Engagement and Advocacy

Recognizing that play is a community-wide effort, we engaged with multiple stakeholders to spread our message:
- Schools and educators: We held meetings to discuss the importance of play in children’s development.
- Community members: We collaborated with parents and local leaders to gain support and build a shared understanding of the project’s impact.

A Memorable Play Day Trip

As a highlight of our visit, we organized a special play day trip to Science City for 400 children from three different schools. This experience allowed the children to explore, learn, and play in a new environment, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Positive Impact and Future Plans

The feedback from the schools and the local community has been overwhelmingly positive. This pilot project helped us build stronger connections within the community and provided invaluable insights into their needs. It has laid a strong foundation for future phases of our work in Rancharda and beyond.

You can watch a video of our accomplishments here.

We look forward to continuing our journey with the Rancharda Community and creating even more opportunities for children to play, learn, and thrive.

Please donate and support us in helping children play and live their childhoods.

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