A new UK charity, Playrise, is tackling the profound impact of war and displacement on children by providing innovative flatpack play equipment to communities in disaster zones, spanning from Ukraine to Ethiopia. With one in six children globally affected by conflict, Playrise aims to restore a sense of normalcy and joy through the universal power of play.
The inspiration for Playrise came from Alexander Meininger, a photographer and father based in London. Like many parents, Meininger spent countless hours observing his young sons delighting in local playgrounds. This personal experience, coupled with his natural inclination for crafting, led him to build an indoor treehouse for his own children. However, it was the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the widespread destruction of infrastructure that spurred Meininger to action on a larger scale. Witnessing the devastation, he conceived the idea of providing playgrounds to help Ukrainian children, which quickly evolved into the broader mission of Playrise: designing and distributing modular, flatpack play equipment and furniture for displaced families in humanitarian crisis regions worldwide. The charity, recently launched in London, underscores the essential need for children to find happiness and a space for growth, even amidst the most challenging circumstances.