ChangeX, the community engagement platform, has launched a new R2,730,000 play-focused community fund, with support from the LEGO Foundation, to empower communities across South Africa to create more playful experiences for children.
The LEGO Foundation is dedicated to ensuring children globally can learn through play, develop critical skills and reach their full potential. Its partnership with ChangeX is designed to activate more learning through play projects in communities around the world, to inspire more people to champion the power of play, and to scale proven play ideas.
This new fund is the second South Africa Community Play Fund, building on the success of last year’s fund. It is one of seven play funds that ChangeX and the LEGO Foundation are launching this summer, and follows the recent launch of a dedicated fund to celebrate the first ever International Day of Play on June 11.
To date, ChangeX has launched 25 community play funds across 9 countries, including South Africa, with the LEGO Foundation’s support, funding 1,097 community play projects and benefitting almost 162,000 children. A tenth country, Vietnam, will be added to the partnership this year.
InTouch NPO received funding to start a Play Parks project in Orange Farm, Johannesburg. “The impact of our project has been profound, as evidenced by the enthusiastic participation and positive feedback from both children and their families. We’ve witnessed firsthand how our creative activities have fostered a sense of joy, empowerment, and belonging among participants, helping them to express themselves freely and develop important life skills,” the organization shared.
The new South Africa Community Play Fund offers funding for anyone who wants to transform their community through play, including non-profits, community groups, schools, parents and passionate individuals. It will support communities to bring an existing play idea – such as hosting a playful meal for children and their caregivers or building a playground with local materials – to life in their neighbourhood.
Niamh McKenna, co-founder and head of impact, ChangeX, said: “Our ongoing partnership with the LEGO Foundation is empowering communities across South Africa to enrich children’s lives through play. Building on our track record of impact across 9 countries, we’re thrilled to offer funding to passionate changemakers eager to make a playful difference in their communities. We want to ensure that as many children as possible have the opportunity to develop essential skills by learning through play.”
Funding from the South Africa Community Play Fund will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more.
About ChangeX
ChangeX is a community engagement platform designed to get funding and resources directly into the hands of ordinary people to lead impactful projects in their neighbourhoods.
ChangeX was established in 2015. It works with social innovators to scale proven solutions to environmental, economic and social issues and partners with companies and foundations to support local communities with the necessary funding. Its fundersinclude Microsoft, Accenture and the LEGO Foundation, among others.
ChangeX is an international non-profit organisation, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with teams based across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.
About the LEGO Foundation
The LEGO Foundation aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow; a mission that it shares with the LEGO Group. The LEGO Foundation is dedicated to building a future where learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners. Its work is about re-defining play and re-imagining learning. In collaboration with thought leaders, influencers, educators and parents the LEGO Foundation aims to equip, inspire and activate champions for play.
