In humanitarian crises, access to play is often overlooked yet it is fundamental to childhood development and emotional recovery. UK-based charity Playrise aims to address this need through the development of a modular playground system designed specifically for children displaced by war. According to UNICEF, approximately 48 million children are displaced due to conflict war.
Created in collaboration with architects and engineers, the system is a flat-packed, reconfigurable structurethat can be easily transported and assembled in refugee camps and disaster-relief sites. It functions as an adaptable kit of parts, allowing communities to build climbing frames, tunnels, theatres or quiet spaces depending on their needs.
Playrise is designed as an “inhabitable toy”, a system that children can assemble, reconfigure and take ownership of over time. The modular components support different ages, abilities and styles of play, from physical movement to sensory exploration, making the system both inclusive and flexible. The design process was equally meaningful, through workshops in refugee communities across Ethiopia and Egypt, children helped shape the system, ensuring it responds to real needs and cultural contexts.
Playrise advocates for play as a lifeline, essential for building confidence, fostering relationships and supporting mental wellbeing in environments marked by trauma. By rethinking play as critical infrastructure, Playrise demonstrates how design can restore dignity, confidence and joy in challenging conditions.
