Promotes every child’s right to play with play space created

for children with disabilities, families

Ribbon Cutting Event

Friday, 20 April 2018, 10:45am.
The Gateway School in Rumsig, Roodepoort

JOHANNESBURG (18 April) – Play Africa announced today the launch of its new Sensory Play exhibit, a unique hands-on play environment created especially for children with autism and their families. World Autism Awareness Month is currently underway during April 2018 and this initiative nurtures autistic children’s own concept of themselves and their rights as secured in the Constitution.

The proudly South African children’s museum exhibit, inspired by global examples created for children with autism and sensory processing disorders, was designed and built in Johannesburg by Play Africa and local small businesses. It is designed to be easily transportable, and can be set up to serve children around the country in schools, community centres, even parks.

“All children have the right to play, but all too often children with special needs are not considered in places designed for children’s play in South Africa,” said Gretchen Wilson-Prangley, founder and CEO of Play Africa. “We’re thrilled to be offering this special environment to children with autism and their families, because we’re passionate about pioneering inclusive play spaces that celebrate difference and cater to a range of learning styles and abilities.”

There will be a special ribbon cutting event at the Gauteng Department of Basic Education’s Autism Conference at The Gateway School in Rumsig, Roodepoort, on Friday, 20 April at 10:45am. 

The unique Sensory Play exhibit, consisting of a textured wall designed with a baobab, springbok, blue crane, and king proteas, was developed by Play Africa in partnership with Autism South Africa, other local autism specialists and local design firm Counterspace, with input from families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

“Play Africa’s Sensory Play exhibit is an incredible initiative that will help South Africans understand and accept one another — not just children with autism but all children with disabilities and differences,” said Vicky Lamb, national education facilitator with Autism South Africa, the national body for autism in South Africa, which provided input on the design of the exhibit.  

Play Africa is a non-profit organisation. As one of South Africa’s leading children’s museums, it creates opportunities for young children and families to come together through play at Constitution Hill and in other public spaces around Johannesburg.

Its Sensory Play exhibit offers children with autism and other sensory integration challenges a place to come together to play with their siblings, parents and caregivers. To meet the special needs of children with autism, Play Africa will offer the exhibit in environments with reduced sound, designated quiet spaces, extra visual signage and sensory aids.

“We’re creating a warm, welcoming, ‘judgment-free zone’ for all families in our city, where all families, including those with children with special needs can come together for special play time in a relaxed environment.” said Mpho Lebona, Play Africa’s Inclusion Coordinator.

Play Africa’s Sensory Play exhibit will be open to members of the public for free at Constitution Hill from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on the following days:

• Saturday 5 May
• Tuesday 15 May
• Saturday 2 June
• Tuesday 12 June
• Saturday 7 July
• Tuesday 24 July

The initiative is supported by several partners, including Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), the FirstRand Foundation and Rockwood Private Equity; and individual donors.

“RMB is proud to support the socially transformative work of Play Africa, particularly as the team strives for inclusion and the mainstreaming of disabilities in all their programmes. Play Africa creates unique opportunities to inspire creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking and personal expression,” said Yvette Nowell, head of the RMB Fund.

“We value organisations that can have a positive impact in our society, including organisations working to create opportunities for children with disabilities,” said Andrew Dewar of Rockwood Private Equity. “We’re proud to support Play Africa and the wonderful educational programmes they provide for all children and families in Johannesburg, and we wish them continued success in 2018 and beyond.”

About Play Africa

Play Africa is a proudly South African children’s museum in Johannesburg, providing safe, creative and engaging spaces for children, their families and schools to develop their minds and bodies through sensory play and high-quality learning enrichment. Based at the iconic Constitution Hill, Play Africa transforms and re-casts the former prison into a joyful hub of play, learning and discovery. Through unique exhibits and programmes, Play Africa ignites curiosity and a love of learning in young people, building the next generation of South African inventors, problem-solvers and innovators. Play Africa is made possible through grants from FirstRand Foundation, and the RMB’s Creative Arts Programme, along with dozens of other partners. For more information, visit playafrica.org.za.

Promotes every child’s right to play with play space created

for children with disabilities, families

Ribbon Cutting Event

Friday, 20 April 2018, 10:45am.
The Gateway School in Rumsig, Roodepoort

JOHANNESBURG (18 April) – Play Africa announced today the launch of its new Sensory Play exhibit, a unique hands-on play environment created especially for children with autism and their families. World Autism Awareness Month is currently underway during April 2018 and this initiative nurtures autistic children’s own concept of themselves and their rights as secured in the Constitution.

The proudly South African children’s museum exhibit, inspired by global examples created for children with autism and sensory processing disorders, was designed and built in Johannesburg by Play Africa and local small businesses. It is designed to be easily transportable, and can be set up to serve children around the country in schools, community centres, even parks.

“All children have the right to play, but all too often children with special needs are not considered in places designed for children’s play in South Africa,” said Gretchen Wilson-Prangley, founder and CEO of Play Africa. “We’re thrilled to be offering this special environment to children with autism and their families, because we’re passionate about pioneering inclusive play spaces that celebrate difference and cater to a range of learning styles and abilities.”

There will be a special ribbon cutting event at the Gauteng Department of Basic Education’s Autism Conference at The Gateway School in Rumsig, Roodepoort, on Friday, 20 April at 10:45am. 

The unique Sensory Play exhibit, consisting of a textured wall designed with a baobab, springbok, blue crane, and king proteas, was developed by Play Africa in partnership with Autism South Africa, other local autism specialists and local design firm Counterspace, with input from families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

“Play Africa’s Sensory Play exhibit is an incredible initiative that will help South Africans understand and accept one another — not just children with autism but all children with disabilities and differences,” said Vicky Lamb, national education facilitator with Autism South Africa, the national body for autism in South Africa, which provided input on the design of the exhibit.  

Play Africa is a non-profit organisation. As one of South Africa’s leading children’s museums, it creates opportunities for young children and families to come together through play at Constitution Hill and in other public spaces around Johannesburg.

Its Sensory Play exhibit offers children with autism and other sensory integration challenges a place to come together to play with their siblings, parents and caregivers. To meet the special needs of children with autism, Play Africa will offer the exhibit in environments with reduced sound, designated quiet spaces, extra visual signage and sensory aids.

“We’re creating a warm, welcoming, ‘judgment-free zone’ for all families in our city, where all families, including those with children with special needs can come together for special play time in a relaxed environment.” said Mpho Lebona, Play Africa’s Inclusion Coordinator.

Play Africa’s Sensory Play exhibit will be open to members of the public for free at Constitution Hill from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on the following days:

• Saturday 5 May
• Tuesday 15 May
• Saturday 2 June
• Tuesday 12 June
• Saturday 7 July
• Tuesday 24 July

The initiative is supported by several partners, including Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), the FirstRand Foundation and Rockwood Private Equity; and individual donors.

“RMB is proud to support the socially transformative work of Play Africa, particularly as the team strives for inclusion and the mainstreaming of disabilities in all their programmes. Play Africa creates unique opportunities to inspire creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking and personal expression,” said Yvette Nowell, head of the RMB Fund.

“We value organisations that can have a positive impact in our society, including organisations working to create opportunities for children with disabilities,” said Andrew Dewar of Rockwood Private Equity. “We’re proud to support Play Africa and the wonderful educational programmes they provide for all children and families in Johannesburg, and we wish them continued success in 2018 and beyond.”

About Play Africa

Play Africa is a proudly South African children’s museum in Johannesburg, providing safe, creative and engaging spaces for children, their families and schools to develop their minds and bodies through sensory play and high-quality learning enrichment. Based at the iconic Constitution Hill, Play Africa transforms and re-casts the former prison into a joyful hub of play, learning and discovery. Through unique exhibits and programmes, Play Africa ignites curiosity and a love of learning in young people, building the next generation of South African inventors, problem-solvers and innovators. Play Africa is made possible through grants from FirstRand Foundation, and the RMB’s Creative Arts Programme, along with dozens of other partners. For more information, visit playafrica.org.za.

There’s a newspaper craft group which meets every Saturday at Sinethemba School for Autism in East London. This group, however, is comprised of young adults, all of whom have autism.

The group was started when Antoinette Bruce Alexander, Autism South Africa’s Regional Development Officer for the Eastern Cape, mom to an 18 year old young man with autism, and also owner of the Sinethemba School for Autism in East London, came to the Johannesburg School for Autism and saw the beautiful newspaper crafts that had been created by the students at the Johannesburg school.

Antoinette contacted Lungi, who runs all the training, and Lungi was soon flying down to East London on Saturday mornings to train Antoinette, other parents as well as the young adults. Their training lasted for 4-6 hours on a Saturday – this took four months. The group getstogether every Saturday afternoon at Autism Sinethemba (Antoinette’s pre-school for children with autism) where they sit and create their beautiful creations.

The number of young adults and their parents or care givers have grown over the last year and the hope is to expand the group to help more young adults to learn new skills and through their own work, earn money.  The aim is to make them as independent as possible. 90% of money made goes to the young person who made the article that was sold, 10% comes back to the project for buying more supplies or paying for our stall at any market (normally a charge of R100.00).

At the end of last year, they hosted their first stall at the Maren Oppie Plaas market. The market last year was not as successful as the group had hoped for, however it was their first one and some valuable lessons were learnt.

“The market in December was not very well attended, there was a lot going on in East London at the time and being two days before Christmas, it was relatively small with only a few bags and goodies sold.  It is a new experience for all of us and I am sure we will do much better in future.  It was also an afternoon/evening market, we needed to take little lights to light up our stall and by 4:30 the weather closed in and the rain started, then everyone packed up and left.  It was miserably cold and wet.  We cannot do anything about the weather, so we said goodbye to the market and we will try again with a few markets this year. 

“We wish Antoinette and all the young adults who participate in this group all the very best! If you would like to find out more about this initiative you can contact Antoinette directly – easterncape@autismsouthafrica.org or 072 678 2452