Erick Contreras, managing director at BASF Vietnam, handed over the new public playground to the local authorities in District 12 on November 3. Photo: BASF Vietnam

Featuring a creative design, the playground and outdoor toys are built using child-friendly and sustainable components including wood, rope and reusable materials, such as old tires.

The project will provide the younger generation an opportunity to have an engaging interaction with nature and instil the habit of reusing and recycling from their early age. The facility also aims to promote exploration, inspire creativity and develop different skills among the kids as they play and interact with each other. All the facilities are installed and decorated by volunteers from BASF and the local youth union.

It is the sixth public playground in Vietnam and the third in Ho Chi Minh City to receive support from BASF Vietnam. The area where it is built houses many low-income immigrant worker families. An Phu Dong Community Learning Centre has offered free education to 20 kids from needy families, and most of them are working off their school times to support their families.

“The new playground will not only help them and other children living in the neighbourhood to develop their physical and cognitive skills, but also promote connection and a sense of sharing among them to create a sustainable community. We would like to express our appreciation to BASF Vietnam for their support in our mission to promote the Right to Play for urban children,” said Nguyen Tieu Quoc Dat, Think Playgrounds‘ co-founder and PR director.

Erick Contreras, managing director of BASF Vietnam said, "Learn through play is crucial for children’s physical and mental development, and we believe the new facilities will provide the kids a great outdoor place to interact, play, and develop multiple skills. Equally important, we want to promote the use of sustainable materials and provide knowledge about science and the environment among children and how they can play their part from an early age.”

Tran Thanh Xuan, secretary of An Phu Dong Ward Youth Union said, "Our community is pleased with the playground installed at the Community Learning Centre. The playground is a meaningful and enjoyable gift for not only children who study in the centre, but also other kids who live in the nearby area."

Since 2019, the partnership between BASF Vietnam and Think Playgrounds has resulted in public playgrounds in Yen Bai province and the outskirts of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

BASF Vietnam has also been active in multiple community projects. For instance, it has partnered with the Saigon Children’s Charity to renovate schools to enhance facilities and improve hygiene and safety conditions. Moreover, it holds the interactive education programme BASF Kids’ Lab on an annual basis for primary school students. The company also offers BASF Virtual Lab, a website for primary students to do fun online chemistry experiments.

Think Playgrounds is a social enterprise with a mission to promote children's right to play through collaboration with multidisciplinary partners and communities to build environmentally friendly playgrounds.

By the end of 2021, Think Playgrounds and partners have built over 200 public playgrounds and community gardens, piloted the first adventure playground model in Vietnam and organised over 30 public events in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.