Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-story-of-a-playground-building-a-playground-in-brazil/5012828/
It feels like old times to me. When I consulted with local Head Start programs on building and designing playgrounds, the challenge was always the same: not enough space, not enough money - but lots of volunteer help, community resources, and enthusiasm.The only difference this time - as I gaze at a sun-drenched slab of concrete surrounded by an eight foot wall, site of the proposed playground - is the location. I'm in the middle of Brazil! Actually, I'm 350 miles north and inland from Rio de Janeiro.
How did I get from the cold winter of Denver, Colorado, to the heat, humidity, and color of Brazil?
I was asked to travel to the town of Sete Lagoas (seven lakes, in Portuguese) by Bryan Cooke, a professor at the University of Northern Colorado. I present a regular lecture on playground safety for one of his graduate courses, and we have worked together on several playgrounds. Dr. Cooke is a member of Partners of the Americas, who sponsored my trip. Partners of the Americas is a Kennedy-era program, now privately funded, that matches people and projects between states in the U.S. and Latin America, to provide a two-way exchange of ideas, expertise, and good ...