Humanitarian Play Labs
These recovery play spaces aim to provide psychological support to Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar camp in Bangladesh, who are exposed to severe trauma from persecution back in Rakhine state in Myanmar.
In this space playworkers, therapists and community members help children process and recover from their experiences, integrating playful learning and child protection. In this approach, the built environment contributes to establishing a culturally relevant setting for recovery.
Location Cox's Bazar refugee camp, Bangladesh
Organisation
BRAC Institute of Educational Development
Partner organisations LEGO Foundation
Scale of catchment Neighbourhood
Beneficiary
Children aged 0-6
Build environment component Community building
INTERVENTION DESIGN LEARNINGS
Visual/Aesthetic
Interior design features traditional motifs, objects and paintings significant to Rohingya culture, to create a reassuring homelike environment.
Process
Refugee community was engaged in developing both the space and the play strategies, for culturally relevant space, games and educational activities.
Implementation learnings
When properly culture rooted, social infrastructure design can contribute to psychological recovery from trauma, wellbeing and resilience building.
Source
https://www.legofoundation.com/en/what-we-do/programmes-and-projects/play-labs-brac/