WATCH THE VIDEO (2017)Play Africa is a small children's museum based at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, South Africa. Watch how Play Africa brings together children and families from diverse backgrounds and abilities for shared, equitable creative learning through play. From STEM learning to arts programmes, Play Africa gives every child the opportunity to explore a range of curated exhibit spaces in the former prison courtyards of Constitution Hill. Parents are important partners in children's engagement, spending special time forming bonds of attachment and discovering new opportunities for growth. Through its work, Play Africa fosters social cohesion and nurtures a sense of belonging in all children and families.This video features its collaboration with Johannesburg-based businesses, creating opportunities for employee volunteers to make an impact in education.

WATCH THE VIDEO.April 2018RMB showcases Play Africa, a small, community-connected children’s museum based at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, which partnered with Gauteng Department of Education to launch a first-of-its-kind sensory play exhibit for children with autism. This video, taken at Gateway School in Ruimsig, Gauteng, features images of the custom-built sensory wall, along with interviews from MEC Panyaza Lesufi, autism specialists, parents and Play Africa team members about the project, created to foster social inclusion and acceptance of children with disabilities.

WATCH THE VIDEOThis video features Play Africa's partnership with two no-fee government schools, Pohopedi Primary and Mfundo-Mtoti Primary, in Poortjie, Orange Farm, about 45 km south of Johannesburg's city centre. Play Africa equips children and families for the future through child-led programmes that promote creativity and innovation. It empowers parents and teachers with playful learning approaches that bring global thinking to classrooms and communities. As a children's museum, Play Africa pioneers equitable public spaces for high-quality early learning in South Africa. In six years of successful operations, it has become a globally-acclaimed platform to foster social inclusion and bring families together through play-based learning. Play Africa is grateful to founding partner Rand Merchant Bank for supporting its work to promote creative, critical thinking and a growth mindset among South Africa's children. This partnership in Orange Farm was made possible through support from Discovery Vitality, Care for Education and the Gauteng Department of Education.

WATCH THE VIDEOBridges of Peace is an original Play Africa program designed to strengthen social inclusion of refugees, asylum- seekers and other migrant communities through facilitated workshops and exhibits that promote empathy and compassion. For South Africa’s democracy to thrive in future generations, children need to learn to live, play, learn and work alongside one another with tolerance and peace. This begins by nurturing a shared sense of belonging and affirming the values of the Constitution and the rule of law.Play Africa is a growing, agile children’s museum in Johannesburg, South Africa. We empower and equip all children and families for the future through play, creativity, innovation and connection. Based at the iconic Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, South Africa., Play Africa creates a society that honours children and champions their rights, celebrating imagination and encouraging experimentation, innovation and problem-solving. Its hands-on play areas encourage children to test their independence and gain confidence in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), the arts, self-expression and civic engagement. Through this exhibit and facilitated programmes, Play Africa aims to:1. FOSTER EMPATHY AND UBUNTU THROUGH DIALOGUE AND PLAYExplore concepts of inclusion, diversity, empathy and ubuntuBuild awareness about xenophobia and its consequencesInvite learners to build on these themes through Play Africa's original, child-centred learning environment designed to develop emotional awareness and to encourage interpersonal connection2. CELEBRATE THE RICH DIVERSITY OF CULTURES IN SOUTH AFRICAShare examples of the importance of ubuntu and human connection as a way to address xenophobia or misdirected hate towards othersReinforce the right of every child and every person to live in peace in our Constitutional democracyEncourage personal expression on diversity and inclusion3. INSPIRE CHILDREN TO BECOME CRITICAL THINKERSEmpower children to become self-directed learners through development of five key areas: creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and new competencies.As in all our programmes, we capture qualitative and quantitative data to ensure we successfully deliver on our objectives.CONTEXTXenophobia and intolerance of refugees and asylum seekers remains a serious challenge in urban Johannesburg, despite South Africa’s many strides towards a more democratic, rights-based society. Refugees and asylum seekers face violence, intimidation and fear – as evidenced by the recent uptick in attacks in early 2019. The basic human rights of refugees and asylum seekers are routinely violated by host country staff within South African institutions, including schools, hospitals, police and other services. By virtue of their age, children remain the most vulnerable members of migrant communities. This is compounded by high incidences of family poverty, violence, social exclusion, neglect, and poor education on children’s rights within urban Johannesburg. Laws protect all children, but in practice many of the country’s migrant and refugee children, like host-country children, still lack basic protections, much less a chance to learn through play in safe, inclusive and equitable environments.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS VIDEOHow do we build resilience in our children? How can we as parents support their emotional well-being?Join Play Africa, Johannesburg's children's museum, for this important conversation with Wits University Department of Social Work senior lecturer Dr Ajwang' Warria, clinical psychologist Ruth Ancer and psychologist and author Paul Bushell. This conversation on Facebook Live was moderated by Play Africa play and learning supervisor Mpho Tsele. This is a safe space designed to support you as parents!About Play Africa ConnectsPlay Africa Connects is a series of unique online dialogues for South Africans to connect with compassion through technology, created in response to the COVID-19 crisis, in partnership with Goethe-Institut Johannesburg. Additional support is provided by Rand Merchant Bank. Play Africa Connects provides a unique, non-judgmental space for all families -- including families in vulnerable communities -- to share ideas about how to cope with disruption and uncertainty.Play Africa (playafrica.org.za) is a growing, agile children’s museum in Johannesburg, South Africa. We equip all children and families for the future through play, creativity, innovation and connection.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS VIDEOJoin Play Africa for a discussion with Basheera Surty of Diketo - Inclusive Education and Vicky Lamb of Autism South Africa. This conversation on Facebook Live was moderated by Play Africa play and learning supervisor Mpho Tsele. Audience members were invited to comment and ask questions. This is a safe space designed to support you as parents!About Play Africa ConnectsPlay Africa Connects is a series of unique online dialogues for South Africans to connect with compassion through technology, created in response to the COVID-19 crisis, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg. Play Africa Connects provides a unique, non-judgmental community space for all families -- including for vulnerable communities -- to share ideas about how to cope with disruption and uncertainty.Play Africa is a growing, agile children’s museum in Johannesburg, South Africa. We equip children and families for the future through play, creativity, innovation & connection.

WATCH THE VIDEOHow can we empower children to learn about the Constitution and rule of law? How can we give children insight into career possibilities as children learn about different roles in the judicial system?Play Africa, a children’s museum based at Constitution Hill, launched its new Children’s Court, an interactive exhibit that uses play to introduce children to South Africa’s judicial system. The Children’s Courtroom nurtures children’s own concepts of themselves and their rights as secured in South Africa’s Constitution. Through facilitated play and dialogue, the programme strengthens children’s rights by introducing all children to the core values of the Constitution, the rule of law, and different ways they can make their voices heard in a democratic society.  “We’ve created an exciting new learning environment that will ignite new career possibilities in the minds of children, while instilling core principles of the Constitution and the rule of law,” said Play Africa founder and CEO Gretchen Wilson-Prangley. "Despite South Africa’s strides towards a democratic, rights-based society, the reality is that children’s rights are routinely violated, and children remain the most vulnerable members of our society. Our Children’s Courtroom is a safe space where children can learn how to make their voices heard in a court of law, so South Africa’s democracy can thrive in future generations."  “We are excited to partner with Play Africa in this important work. Exposing children to the justice system and teaching them about the rights and duties of citizens is an investment in their future success and that of our country as a whole,” said Fatima Laher, head of Pro Bono at Bowmans, a leading African law firm, which provided funding for the manufacture of the exhibit.  Retired Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron was the guest speaker at the event. He delivered remarks on the Constitution and children’s rights. Constitutional Court Justice Zukisa Tshiqi cut the ribbon formally launching the child-scale exhibit, made of stainless steel and wood. Its several components – from the judge’s bench to the witness box – are designed to be fully modular, so it can be set up temporarily in other settings. “Play Africa would like this exhibit to become a powerful resource for outreach programmes and for other child advocacy organisations working in South Africa,” said Wilson-Prangley. Play Africa is a pioneering “children's museum” based at the iconic Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, South Africa, a former prison complex that is now seat of South Africa’s Constitutional Court. Situated inside the Old Fort, Play Africa operates in the courtyards just 15 metres from the cell where former President Nelson Mandela was once incarcerated. As a cultural institution, its exhibits and programmes are designed to stimulate imagination, experimentation, innovation and problem-solving in children, as well as their families and educators. “Constitution Hill is proud to be the home of Play Africa and stands behind it’s initiatives and programs,” said Dawn Robertson, CEO of Constitution Hill Development Company. “The greatest significance is that we are able to encourage community participation thus supporting the growth and development of children in the inner city for the foreseeable future.”