About Us
Based in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, Playground Builders began as a grass roots organization in 2006 after the founding Director had been traveling throughout the Middle East and witnessed conflict's ultimate victims: children. Determined to do something to help, he designed an innovative model that provides tangible, long term benefits for these children and their communities. Along with a group of dedicated volunteers, Playground Builders has built twenty playgrounds to date. Uniquely, all of our donations goes toward building playgrounds. All of our operating costs and time are essentially donated.
The benefits of the Playground Builders program are really multi-fold. The children get somewhere safe to play, laugh and simply be kids. Parents witness their children being children. The playgrounds are built by local people who bid on the construction project through a tender process. This effectively helps societies in crisis by providing much needed jobs which injects money into the local economy and helps to restore some pride and ownership in their respective communities.
Olive Branch Playground Builders Foundation was incorporated under the BC Society Act on June 21, 2007. Our business number is S-52332. All donations over $25 are tax deductible.
Playgrounds in the Palestinian Territories
We work in conjunction with Medical Aid for Palestine - Canada, MAP (A Registered Canadian Charity #886421395RR0001) issuing tax receipts for donations and distributing all funds to a local NGO in Palestine, Sharek Youth Forum.
See video.
Playgrounds in Iraq
Upon recommendation from UN colleagues, Playground Builders Foundation initiated correspondence with Al-Noor Humanitarian Organization in August 2007.
Al-Noor was founded in 2003. Al-Noor Humanitarian Organization is registered with the Planning Ministry and the Institutions of Civil Society Ministry in Baghdad, Iraq. Al–Noor has received funding and worked with Oxfam, ICS, (Italy), UNICEF, UPP (Italy), and Save The Children’s Fund (UK).
