Over 100 volunteers
Over 10 schools
Over 4000 children
2 Continents
100s of creative ideas
Playful Engineers: sustaining futures
London
Playful Engineers: Sustaining Futures provides children with the opportunity to learn more about engineering's contribution to sustainable development while co-creating solutions to local environmental problems they are facing in their community.
Stage 1: Design workshop
Through a series of interactive, playful workshops facilitated by a diverse group of engineer volunteers, children from local primary and secondary schools learn how engineering shapes the world around them. They decide what local sustainability challenge they want to solve and use design tools such as modelling and computer aided design to solve them.
Because we aim to inspire.
I liked working with [volunteer] because he was black like me and I never knew someone like me could do something like this.
Playful Engineers at Rye Oak Primary School
Stage 2: presentation
During their final workshop, the children presented their playful solutions to combat the climate crisis. Workshops were facilitated by a superb team of volunteers - who loved a chance to play themselves!
Because we place children's needs at the core of our mission.
It made me feel like I would change the world.
Stage 3: exhibition
Our Play Here exhibitions completed in August 2024, and we are so glad over 1000 people were able to experience it!
To exhibit their sustainable solutions, we temporarily transformed a public alleyway and a space in a shopping centre Greener & Cleaner. This not only made the spaces more playful and welcoming, but it also allowed children's ideas to occupy spaces that are normally used by adults.
Their designs were showcased in the exhibition but and the fantastic visitors contributed too.
How?
- By taking superhero selfies to remind them they can also help to sustain our world
- By commenting on 3D printed models of the children's ideas (made and donated by Fixie)
- By completing a playful workbook that helped them to reflect on what they had seen and touched
- By decorating laser cut flowers and animals that showcased the biodiversity that rain gardens can produce
Seeing the joy on their faces when they put on their superhero masks and saw themselves in the exhibition was a highlight for me.
What Impact did Playful Engineers have on Peoples Lives?
Celebration of the workshops
Children presenting their designs to engineers
Children at the design workshop
Volunteer Engineers
Children with their designs
Children at the design workshop
Children designing
