Project Spotlights

Cuddalore and Nagapattinam, India

In January 2007, we completed two playgrounds in southeast India (in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam), an area that was severely affected by the December 2005 tsunami. The two communities lost more than 7,000 people in the tsunami. The U.S. Agency for International Development and the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) provided the funding.

Children and adults in the communities participated in the design, planning and construction of the playgrounds. The process provided the children with a much-needed playground while at the same time rebuilding a sense of community.

Designer Dennis Wille traveled to India in April 2006 to conduct Design Days. Consultant Lee Archin flew to India in November to conduct Organization Days and then returned along with Justin Fowler to build the two playgrounds in January.

Building playgrounds in India presented many challenges and hurdles: cranes, bobcats and other heavy equipment were practically nonexistent. Instead, bucket brigades of schoolchildren disposed of the dirt from the post holes; teams of oxen pulled in carts of gravel and took out the dirt; and the tower cones were hoisted into place by hand. Our normal materials, slides, and hardware were not available either, so Lee had to review and choose between possible alternatives when he was there in November, and the playgrounds were built using teakwood.

The language barrier was another challenge, made more difficult because the interpreters did not understand what we were requesting. Justin said that drawings went a long way in describing what needed to be done, "and smiles and hand signals are universal."

"Barn raising" is a very American tradition, and "we really weren't sure how an Indian community would respond. We were nervous that no one would come-that they just wouldn't buy in to the idea," said ICMA's Jami Sachs. "What happened was far above our wildest dreams for the projects." Nearly 500 volunteers took part in building each of the playgrounds. People from all walks of life came together to make the playground a reality. The local people learned to use power tools (donated by ICMA) and the Leathers' consultants learned new (old!) ways to use hand tools and manpower. Many schoolchildren also participated. Beautiful designs were etched into the wood and painted by area craftspeople, and local women painstakingly drew designs in the sand near the entrance to the playgrounds.

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