“Together we have 20 years of experience in designing for & with children and their communities. In our international context, we have built up a widely spread international multidisciplinary network of professionals, ranging from social architects, grassroot NGO’s, building contractors, professors, playworkers to NGO leaders.” Renet & Insaf
شرنقة - Sharnaqa
SHARNAQA IS THE ARABIC WORD FOR COCOON
We create Safe places to play as a springboard toward their full development
Who we are
About
Sharnaqa
Sharnaqa is a non-profit hybrid entreprise based on collaborative structure stimulating free play for children who live in situations where space or time to play is not automatically part of their daily lives. Sharnaqa researches, consults, co-designs and co-constructs to create community Spaces inducing play, together with its international network, and the local community.
-Sharnaqa is the result of fruitful collaboration between Ecumene Studio and Make Space 4Play-
In all societies, free play is under threat. A lack of either: time, permission or of child-friendly public spaces, threatens children’s possibilities to conduct free play. Sharnaqa develops projects with local communities through consulting, co-designing and co-constructing to create community Spaces inducing play, together with its international network of international experts.
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// Co-founder
Renet Korthals Altes
I believe children are intrinsically driven to play. Simple elements, placed in their immediate environment stimulate children to play freely. Through free play children are empowered in their independence and creativity, they develop social and cognitive skills, increase their social emotional wellbeing, and grow by pushing their borders.
Mission & beliefs
- Our mission is to empower children and their communities to advocate for their Right to play (#31) by co-designing and co-constructing child friendly spaces or elements encouraging free play.
- We believe in the power of communities to fully make use of community resources, contribute, financially or in workforce; knowledge; experience”
We believe
Children are intrinsically driven to play
-Children are intrinsically driven to play. Simple elements, placed in their immediate environment stimulate children to play freely.
-Through free play (versus organized play activities) children are empowered in their independence and creativity, they develop social and cognitive skills, increase their social emotional wellbeing, and grow by pushing their borders.
-The process of co-designing and co-constructing is as important as the result.
-Through our process children experience and advocate for their right to participate (#12), their right to play (#31), children learn important (21st century) skills and are empowered by the process.
