In India, playgrounds made of industrial waste are building children’s characters

Across India, children are playing among industrial waste – and it’s developing their characters. Pooja Rai has taken old tyres and drums and turned them into accessible playgrounds. As the co-founder of Anthill Creations, she’s not only tackling trash, but giving kids the opportunity to have a fulfilling childhood. “Our vision is to make sure that every single child gets to play irrespective of where they come from or what their background is,” Rai says. 

For children living in high density or slum areas, playgrounds can be few and far between. “One of the reasons playgrounds do not exist is because they are so expensive and difficult to maintain,” Rai says. At the same time, India’s landfills are overflowing with approximately 31 million tonnes of waste. Rai identifies unused spaces to transform into recreational grounds, where her NPO builds jungle gyms made from trash in just four days. These outdoor areas are crucial to a child’s physical and emotional development. “Most of the 21st century skills like negotiation, compromise, problem solving, patience, are the things that we learn in a playground setting,” Rai says. 

To date, Rai and her team have constructed over 300 sustainable playgrounds. They have also created a collection of puzzles, called ‘Play in a Box’, that facilitate learning and fun through games such as dominoes. “Play is the most natural way of how children learn and grow,” Rai says. Having impacted nearly 200 000 children, she is supporting them to embrace the freedom of youth and establish the foundations for a well-rounded future. “Every single child deserves a happy and playful childhood,” Rai says.

Footage and images by Anthill Creations were used in the creation of this film.