The Real Power of Play

Ghana, like many third-world countries, is a world away from the United States, not just literally, but figuratively as well—especially when it comes to play.

In a country where the average monthly income is, according to some estimates, between $400-$600, the way of life in many villages is more than simple; it’s what some might consider bare bones or even backward. No electricity. No running water. No comforts of life—at least compared to North American standards.

And certainly no elaborate playsystems. Or any playground equipment for that matter.

However, for a lucky few, there is a whirl.

That’s thanks to Ben Markham, a retired ExxonMobil engineer from Utah, who founded Empower Playgrounds in 2007 to bring play and light to children living in villages in the far reaches of Ghana through these whirls, which are very basic merry-go-rounds.

The whirl is a rather ingenious invention in that it provides an opportunity for children to play, and the energy generated from the spinning whirls provides power for portable lanterns, allowing these same children to, later in the day, study and do homework.

Back in 2010, Pennsylvania-based Playworld Systems caught wind of what Markham and Empower was doing and jumped on board to help Markham and his non-profit organization more quickly provide whirls to children in Ghana.

Playworld Systems CEO Matt Miller went to Ghana to participate in the installation of two prototype whirls manufactured by Playworld Systems. By 2012, Playworld made the power-generating systems available to developing nations across the globe.

Since Miller’s return from Ghana, plans continued to unfold about Playworld Systems’ long-term commitment to provide whirls to even more children in villages not only in Ghana, but other developing nations around the world.

We asked Miller about those long-term plans, what his experience was like during his few days in Ghana, and why his company would undertake such a venture. Here are his responses:

Playground Professionals: Explain Playworld Systems’ long-term commitment to Empower and this program of bringing play and light to other parts of the world.

Matt Miller: Playworld Systems is committed to an ongoing partnership with Empower Playgrounds to help the organization broaden its reach by lending our research and development resources, materials, and manufacturing facilities. When we learned about Empower Playgrounds, we wholeheartedly believed in their mission and purpose. Providing children with the opportunity to play and, through their play, an unprecedented educational opportunity is powerful. It’s such a simple, compelling, and demonstrable commitment to the benefit of play, and one in which we wanted to be involved. Long-term, we hope to broaden our work with Empower Playgrounds on several levels by: increasing employee involvement, reaching other countries and NGOs, and creating social study partner programs here in the United States.

PGP: Why did Playworld Systems jump on board on this project, and why is it important to your company?

Miller: Playworld Systems understands that play is vital to the human experience. We learn, grow, and develop new relationships through play. Yet play can often be taken for granted and be seen as a luxury. It’s rewarding for us to be involved with Empower Playgrounds and see the firsthand reaction to our commitment. There is a visceral understanding of the benefit we’re providing to the villages of Ghana. Yet in our own country, there are school districts that are legislating play out of the learning experience. We see our work with Empower Playgrounds as an authentic and genuine demonstration of our ongoing commitment to the importance of play.

PGP: Is there a goal of how many units you’d like to produce and then distribute each year?

Miller: These first two projects were literally prototypes, and so from these projects, we hope to understand what’s working and what we need to improve upon for the long-term viability of the whirls. If we’re comfortable with the durability of these first two installations, then we hope to launch a pilot project for installing 10 or more during a two-week deployment. We’re doing our best to help Empower Playgrounds grow its model quickly and prudently.

PGP: What is the biggest hurdle faced in trying to manufacture and then distribute these whirls?

Miller: Having just returned from Ghana, my answer is probably much different from what it would have been before I left. The cultural and social structure is so different from our own country that it’s absolutely vital to have a partner that can organize resources locally. Not only for the installation of the system, but the follow-up and training necessary for the children to get the most out of the system.

PGP: Are you willing to share how much it costs to produce one whirl?

Miller: We only ask Empower Playgrounds to cover the material costs to build the whirls. This is not a revenue-generating program for Playworld Systems. We believe so strongly in the benefits of play that we want to lead by example. I’ve had so many people ask me, “What’s in this for Playworld Systems?” When I tell them that it’s a social commitment to the benefit of play, I sometimes get an incredulous blank stare … believe me, it really is that simple. Just ask someone at Playworld Systems what they think of our involvement in this program. Their pride and sense of responsibility in helping people less fortunate than themselves is a tremendous gift.

PGP: You have been to third world countries before and have seen how the people live and what they don’t have, etc., but can you share what caught you totally off guard once you got to Ghana?

Miller: The lack of potable water completely caught me off guard. I’ve heard of mission work and NGOs that help people install pumps for water. But that first day, when I literally had to walk a quarter mile to see the pond where the children drank from, I was stunned. It’s hard to imagine that in the 21st century, children cannot take a drink without putting their health at risk.