Since 2007, Playground Builders has built 22 playgrounds in Palestine, including 5playgrounds in Gaza and 17 in the West Bank. While these playgrounds continue to provide fun, social interaction and respite for children in these oppressed areas, after years of heavy use (i.e., fun and play), some of them need repairs. Your donations will go directly toward repairing or replacing swings, slides, teeter totters, etc. Funding may also go toward fixing playground sites, such as installing new gravel, grass or concrete.

Most of the playgrounds in the West Bank and Gaza are located in neighbourhood centres, refugee camps and on donated property. As such they are not as likely (as our school playgrounds) to be repaired and maintained due to a lack of money and/or materials.

There are huge numbers of children in both the West Bank and Gaza: With a total population of 2.7M in the West Bank, 37% is 14 years of age or under. In Gaza, with a population of 1.7M, 45% is 14 or under. Further, the average age in Gaza is only 16. That means that only some of the children in Paletine could benefit from one of our 22 playgrounds (but we’re building more!). In addition to building more playgrounds, we need to keep these playgrounds operational and safe.

Only 225 square kilometers in size, the population of Gaza is estimated at 1.7 million people of whom 765,000 are children. Unemployment is in excess of 90%, and 90% of people are living below the poverty line.

The children of Gaza are enduring horrible and lasting consequences due to the deaths and destruction they have witnessed during their short lives. Some kids have lived through three wars. A report published in 2016 by Save the Children, entitled “A Living Nightmare: Gaza One Year On”, says 551 children were killed in the 2015 war and 3,436 were injured, of whom 10% suffered permanent disability. One Israeli child was killed during the war, and 270 injured.

The psychological effects on children of continuous war in Gaza are severe. Due to the Occupation’s containment measures and slow rebuilding efforts, these child victims experience little reprieve and no fun time. So it’s important that we keep the five playgrounds in Gaza in good repair so that at least a few smiles can resonate through the devastation.

Due to barricades and closed borders, our main challenge in Gaza is keeping up with the status of our playgrounds. For example, one playground was severely damaged in 2009 during “Operation Cast Lead.” We are happy to report that the community rallied together and rebuilt it.

Our 17 playgrounds in the West Bank are all utilized to the maximum. Most are centrally located and have open access allowing thousands of kids to have some fun. Endless play on the equipment, of course leads to wear and tear. Our challenge is keeping up with the repairs and the most critical challenge is paying for the repairs and replacements necessary to keep providing play!