Sliding into a fairer start in life: Playground opens at children’s village in Boma, Tanzania
Children at Kao La Amani Children's Village test the slide for the first time!
In September 2024, an exciting milestone was achieved at the Kao La Amani Children’s Village in Boma, Tanzania - the long-awaited playground opening!
Thoughtful design for active play
As Tanzania's first off-grid orphanage, the village is a symbol of innovation and resilience. Article 25, in collaboration with Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation and Kao La Amani, has been dedicated to creating a loving home for these orphaned children, and the playground is an important piece of this transformative puzzle.
Paulina Shari, Site Architect at Article 25, who has overseen the project since October 2021, designed the playground with a vision of integration and community.
“From the start, we wanted the space to feel natural and harmonious with the rest of the village,” Paulina-Shari explains. “We asked the children what they wanted and needed. They had been playing with waste materials and steel pipes—improvising their own games—but that wasn’t safe. They deserved better.”
After spotting a beautifully built playground in a nearby hotel, Paulina tracked down local builder Godlisten and invited him into the collaborative design process.
This resulted in a multi-functional 30 by 30 metre space featuring 8-10 different game areas, offering children a range of physical and creative outlets. A beautiful, handcrafted rope bridge and tyre swings are just two examples of the unique elements incorporated into the design. All these features were, as Louise Quill, Founder of Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation notes, "handmade with love."
Site Architect Paulina-Shari looks out at the Kao La Amani Children’s Village in Boma, Tanzania; some children playing on site before construction begins; two sketches of the swing and slide features from the design proposal.
First day of play: Joyful discoveries
The playground’s opening day was filled with laughter and excitement. “It was incredible,” Godlisten commented. “The kids didn’t need to be told how to play. They just knew. They found inventive ways to slide down—even headfirst! Watching them was pure joy and proved we had done our job correctly.”
The playground quickly became a gathering place for the children and entire village community. Adults were bouncing on tyres, while younger children experimented with every corner of the new space - including the sand pits which are accessible to all ages.
“One of my favourite parts is the two hills and the bridge in between,” Paulina-Shari shares. “It reflects the connection between the two landmark mountains in the background, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, and the decking provides this amazing view of the whole area.”
The playground also offers a place for reflection and storytelling in the evenings, an essential part of the local folklore-inspired culture. Paulina-Shari notes how this simple addition has enriched life at the village, becoming a focal point for connection and shared experiences: "This space is already being used in ways we hadn't even anticipated."
The excitement is clear to see as the children explore the rope swing and slide!
Reflections on the design process
The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. “About 20% of the design changed as we went along,” Paulina-Shari explains. “But that’s the beauty of a phased approach. It allowed us to really understand what was needed and gave us time to collaborate.”
Paulina-Shari is quick to emphasise the teamwork that made the project possible. “The willingness of everyone to help—from contractors and consultants to the children and their caregivers—has been incredible. People have gone the extra mile to make sure everything was done right. This has been a dream project for me, and I’m just so lucky to have been a part of it.”
Tyre swings and timber log steps are a big hit with the Kao La Amani children.
Looking ahead: A bright future
As the playground approaches its November 2024 completion date, plans are already underway to expand its impact. Final touches, including painting inspired by the vibrant colours of the Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation, will bring energy to the space, while solar lighting from an Irish charity will enable use after dark.
In the next 1-2 years, new trees will transform the landscape, and plans for a football pitch will offer even more recreational opportunities.
“This playground is more than just a place to play,” says Paulina-Shari. “It’s about giving these children a joyful space to simply be kids, while advancing Kao La Amani’s broader vision—to strengthen the community and create a brighter, more resilient future for these orphaned children.”
The project stands as a powerful symbol of what can be achieved through collaboration, creativity and a shared commitment to improving the lives of Tanzania’s future generation.
Children testing out the see-saw swing on the opening day.
