A collaboration between the UK charity Playrise and architectural practice OMMX has resulted in the creation of an innovative modular, flat-pack playground. This initiative seeks to reinstate the fundamental right to play for young individuals in refugee settlements and regions impacted by disasters. The playground system, developed in partnership with Eritrean, Sudanese, and Palestinian child refugees over the past year, is constructed from simple timber components. These parts can be easily assembled by individuals and customized with vibrant additions such as monkey bars and climbing grips. Playrise highlights this design as a crucial intervention addressing a significant void in providing support for children globally who are living in displaced conditions.

Alexander Meininger, co-founder of Playrise, underscored the profound importance of play in a child's development, stating that despite the essential nature of food, medicine, and shelter, children acquire knowledge through play. He emphasized that these playgrounds offer a dedicated space, particularly amidst the difficulties and trauma faced by these children, allowing them to momentarily step away from their daily hardships and simply experience childhood. The charity notes that while the right to play is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, its accessibility is often severely limited in disaster relief zones and refugee camps, precisely where it is most critically needed. The initial prototype of the Playrise playground is slated for deployment in the Aysaita refugee camp in Ethiopia, a location where 10,000 children under the age of ten currently live without access to a single playground. Meininger, alongside architects from OMMX, engineers from Webb Yates, and fabricators from Setworks, engaged directly with the camp residents, conducting workshops with children and discussions with parents to understand traditional play methods and current needs. Similar co-design processes were implemented in Egypt for future installations, including a hub for displaced Palestinians in Cairo and a Sudanese refugee community in Wadi Karkar.

The developed system is a component kit engineered to facilitate play in some of the world's hottest climates, offering both shade and structures designed to encourage physical activity and imaginative engagement. OMMX co-founder Hikaru Nissanke explained their deliberate choice of timber over metal for construction, as metal playgrounds in desert environments historically posed burn risks to children and lacked shade. The Playrise system for the Asaita camp utilizes iroko wood, an African hardwood chosen for its resilience in arid conditions, robust properties, and ethical sourcing potential. OMMX streamlined the design to minimize components to a single beam and plank, featuring pre-drilled holes for easy assembly with metal connectors and the attachment of various accessories, from climbing nets to basketball hoops. Emphasizing safety, the design incorporates features to prevent finger entrapment, and Webb Yates devised a secure yet removable footing system adaptable to diverse terrains, including desert sands and urban concrete. The long-term vision for this project involves NGOs selecting from a range of kit sizes (small, medium, large), each accompanied by instructions for multiple structural configurations. These structures can be assembled using basic tools, and Playrise envisions active participation from children in the design and construction of their own play spaces. While primarily designed for children displaced by conflict, Meininger noted that the system's appeal is universal, suitable for any child, anywhere, including everyday nurseries or schools in peaceful settings, and can be constructed using locally sourced woods.