Creating Space to Play at Bahir Dar Prison Pre Primary School

At Bahir Dar Prison Pre Primary School, an empty outdoor space has been transformed into a safe and welcoming place for children to play, explore, and learn.

Previously, the school’s preschool children had no access to safe outdoor play equipment. With generous support from Leonard Future Fund, Partners in Education Ethiopia worked closely with the local community and the Bahir Dar prison administration to procure and install high quality outdoor play equipment.

Today, the space is filled with children climbing, laughing, and playing together. The project is currently benefiting 108 preschool children, including 48 girls and 18 children of inmates, of whom 8 are girls.

For young children, play is an essential part of learning and development. It helps build confidence, strengthen social skills, support physical development, and develop important foundations for future learning. For many of the children at Bahir Dar Prison Pre Primary School, this is their first opportunity to experience safe and meaningful outdoor play.

Children growing up in and around correctional facilities can easily be overlooked. Creating inclusive spaces where they can play, learn, and grow is an important step toward ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

Partners in Education Ethiopia extends its sincere appreciation to Philip Auinger and Leonard Future Fund for making this transformation possible. We look forward to creating similar safe and inclusive learning environments in other underserved pre primary schools and welcome partners who share this commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn, play, and grow.