Playground Project

When I think of playgrounds, I imagine giant forts in the shapes of boats, homes, or rockets. Spending what seemed like hours and hours playing with friends while running around in cedar strips or sand. Slides that help you conquer your fear of heights and make you feel invincible.  Monkey bars that seem so easy when you were younger and leave us adults wondering, “Where did all my upper body strength go?” Swing sets where competitions of “highest swinger” were raged even if you didn’t know who the kid next to you was.

Behind all the fun and imagination, other skills were developing.  Having a safe area where kids can play with one another has social, physical, emotional, and mental benefits. Social development with other children allows students to interact with each other and build friendships with one another. Physical exercise is not only good for the children’s health but will improve their energy levels at schools. By interacting with peers, students will be able to act independently and gain self-esteem, which leads to improved emotional health. All of these areas are interchangeably important with cognitive development and improved motor skills.

So why I am taking a trip down memory lane while giving a health lesson?

Because I need your help.

The school I currently volunteer at and I are trying to build a playground. Right now, the students only have a soccer field to use during recess and after school. The goals don’t even have nets. Our mission is to get enough funding so that we can buy equipment that will suit the students’ needs and imaginations. The school will be contributing to the project as well, however, it is a poorer school in my district so we will be relying on donations for the most part. If we make our goal, we can give these students an area to exercise and develop properly and the tools to allow their imaginations to take them where they have not ventured before.

Potential site for new playground with soccer field in background.

Ways that you can help:

1.       Click and donate to the playground project https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=493-174

-  100% of funds go directly to the volunteer’s community

2.       Tell your friends and family.

- Post and share the website link on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks

- Send a mass email using your address book

3.       Doing a yard sale? Getting rid of old books or games?

-  Mail children’s games and books via USPS Medial Mail to:

Reflections

Attn: Tiane Shoemaker

250 S. Main Street

Colville, WA  99114

(These items will be mailed to my community)

- OR -

Darien Book Aid

1926 Post Road

Darien, CT  06820  USA

(These items will be sorted and donated to Peace Corps Volunteers throughout the world based on what their community needs.)

Still looking for ways to help?

My volunteer friends in Thailand and in other countries are always looking for support for their projects. You can search for potential projects based on type of project, volunteer, or host country. 


Visit http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate to begin your search or see what types of work Peace Corps Volunteers do.