Spatial and physical interventions that integrate everyday active play into the design of homes, streets, schools, buildings or public spaces.

Active Play Architects

Hanoi, Vietnam 

Think Playgrounds Social Enterprise would give children a greater say in how their neighbourhoods are designed. Through practical training, 50 young architects, lecturers and students would work with children and caregivers to create five public play spaces in underserved neighbourhoods across Hanoi.

Ollin: Movement is Play

Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico

Three primary schools serving roughly 1,000 pupils share a 200-metre stretch of street northwest of Mexico City. Proyecto Céntrico would reimagine that stretch with the students themselves, adding play equipment, ground games, and gardens to make the daily school journey safer and create more opportunities to play near the schools.

PLAY HUB – La Casa di Quartiere

Turin, Italy

In Turin's Mirafiori Sud neighbourhood, Balon Mundial would transform the unsafe and damaged outdoor areas surrounding a community football pitch. A green play area, accessible multisport court and shared gardens would give families more ways to use the space, with local young people trained as PLAY Leaders to support younger children.

District of Play

Envigado, Colombia

In Envigado's Zone 9, getting to school means walking streets designed around cars rather than the children who use them daily. Corporación La Otra Ciudad would connect streets, school surroundings and public spaces through nature-based games, safer crossings and shaded places to rest. Designed with children and caregivers, the changes aim to make it easier to walk, play, and explore nature close to home.

Activities and services that embed active play into everyday routines and existing spaces.

Positive Play

Bengaluru and Chennai, India

RISHI Foundation would run regular games, relays, dance and running for children living with or affected by HIV, or growing up in childcare institutions. Young peer leaders with similar lived experiences would lead three sessions each week in familiar settings, with nutrition education and residential camps giving children more opportunities to build confidence and connect.

We Ride With Pride

Murcia, Spain

Skateboarding and active play are the foundation of The Brotherhood’s proposal to scale a youth-led programme across four underserved neighbourhoods in Murcia. Free neighbourhood sessions combining skateboarding, games and creative activities would link to activities in eight schools and community events. 

Yalla Girls!

Liège and Seraing, Belgium

Mothers sharing the street games they grew up with is the starting point for Yalla Girls! Le Monde des Possibles proposes free weekly sessions for girls aged 6–17 from migrant and asylum-seeking families. Girls and their mothers would collect games into a shared rulebook, with participants agreeing on rules together and older girls training as certified play mediators. 

When We All Play

The Netherlands

Equal Play brings children with and without disabilities together through active play at local sports clubs. It would expand this approach to 15 additional locations, with Inclusion Experts supporting coaches to adapt activities. Particular attention would be given to girls with disabilities and refugee or displaced children with disabilities.

Design solutions, activities or services that promote active play for children aged 0–5 and their parents and caregivers to support healthy early development. This category is supported by the Van Leer Foundation.

Patios Naturalizados

Bogotá and Barranquilla, Colombia, and Guadalajara and Mérida, Mexico

Following nine months of training and planning with local teams, the Children & Nature Network would create four nature-rich demonstration sites at early childhood centres. Working with Alana and Fundación FEMSA, the project would combine improvements to play spaces with regional training for designers, educators and municipal staff to extend nature-based play to more communities across the region.

Active Beginnings

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Building on its existing nurturing-care programme, Enfants du Monde would train health workers, community health workers, and peer educators to demonstrate games during health education and community sessions. Families could repeat the activities at home using affordable materials, adapted so children with disabilities or developmental delays can join in too.

Movement & Learning

Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Rise Alliance for Children would support teachers at 15 public preschools to introduce three 10-minute movement sessions into each day. Teachers would receive practical training and classroom demonstrations, while children and families would help develop familiar games and activities, with resources to continue play at home.

READY BY SIX

Gauteng and Western Cape, South Africa

At five community centres, Afrika Tikkun Foundation would strengthen daily active play for around 1,200 children aged 2–5. Music and movement, gardening and outdoor activities would build on the centres’ existing play-based curriculum. Practitioner training and reusable equipment would support staff day-to-day, with quarterly assessments that track each child's progress and flag where extra support is needed.