Finns donate a second playground to Ukraine
Joy of Play, a project led by the Hartwall family and their team, joined forces with Finnish companies Reima and Lappset to bring joy to Ukrainian children in difficult times in Ukraine. Since February 2022, when the war in Ukraine escalated, a whole generation of children has experienced violence, fear, loss, and tragedy. The Joy of Play initiative aims to create moments of joy, hope, and faith in the future for the children of Ukraine.
Together, Joy of Play, Lappset, and Reima donated a second play park to Ukraine. The first playground opened in Lviv in June last year. The second playground, designed for children of different ages, was completed in May in Shuliavka Park in Kyiv. The opening of the playground was celebrated on 24 May at an event in Kyiv, attended by representatives of the City of Kyiv and the Finnish Ambassador to Ukraine, Jaakko Lehtovirta, in addition to representatives of the donating companies. The opening speeches stressed the right of children to childhood despite the war, and that it is up to adults to do their utmost to achieve this.
A young boy wearing a yellow shirt, denim shorts, and a red and black cap is balancing on a wooden beam in an outdoor playground. There are climbing ropes and nets around him. Trees and a building are visible in the background. A woman is walking nearby.
A modern play structure in a park has a tall, enclosed spiral slide made of metal. Children and adults are gathered around, interacting with the structure. The surrounding area is green with trees and lampposts. A sign with text is visible in the background.
Joy of Play founders Pia Hartwall and Ursula Blässar are delighted that the project once again demonstrates the power of collaboration.
"Everyone can help Ukrainians in their way and all help is valuable. This has been our way of helping, and together we have achieved much more than we could have done alone," says Pia Hartwall.
"Finns feel that the situation of Ukrainians is their own. This was demonstrated in a very concrete way last January at a charity event in Helsinki to help Ukraine. Both companies and hundreds of Finns showed interest in participating in the donation of the first playground to be delivered to Lviv and now the second to be completed in Kyiv," says Blässar.
A young girl with a ponytail is looking through a telescope in a playground. She is standing on a wooden structure with yellow panels that have various patterns and shapes on them. The background includes a building with windows.
Three adults, two women and one man, are enjoying a sunny day in a park. The man sits on a large circular swing while the women, standing on each side, hold the swing’s ropes with smiles on their faces. People and picnic setups are visible in the background.
The main partners for the playground donations are children's clothing company Reima Group Oy and playground and sports park manufacturer Lappset Group Oy. Another enabler of the playground in Kyiv is the Danish company Nilpeter A/S, which manufactures printing machines. On the ground in Kyiv, the idea was implemented by New Horizons 2005 and Kyivzelenbud in cooperation with the All-Ukrainian Public Association Institute Respublika.
Erkki Ikäheimo, Director of Lappset, describes the atmosphere at the opening of the playgrounds as indescribable.
"I cannot describe in words the feeling I got when I saw children enjoying themselves in the playground. There was such an immediate joy and exuberance of play and a genuine appreciation from the Ukrainians for the help they were receiving."
Reima is also delighted with the success of the project:
"Outdoor play paves the way for a healthier future for children. This is Reima's raison d'être, and it has been a privilege to be able to implement it in this project with good partners - including the local Reima dealer sisu in difficult circumstances has inspired us," says CEO Heikki Lempinen.
A visualisation of a playground donated to Kiev.
A lively playground is surrounded by lush green trees. It features various play structures, including a large climbing frame with slides, swings, and activity panels. Benches are placed nearby, and the area is paved with pathways and soft grass.