The Mmofra Foundation is a Ghana-based nonprofit organization that works to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of children. In one project, they have worked to transform a two-acre plot of underutilized green space in Accra’s Dzorwulu neighborhood into a place centered on children’s enjoyment and play. The project, called Mmofra Place (Mmofra means “children” in Akan) was inspired by a 1960 book and photo essay called Playtime in Africa, by Efua T. Sutherland and Willis Bell, which contains compelling photographs of the many imaginative children's games across Ghana. The Mmofra Foundation wanted to design a place that nurtured the kind of joy represented in the Playtime in Africa series, while also addressing Accra's rapid urbanization, its large population of young people, and the lack of safe public spaces for children.

To do this, they partnered with an international network of architects, planners, engineers , educators, artists, as well as local experts, community leaders, and teenagers. They hosted public meetings and charrettes to develop a vision, site plan, and range of strategies for revamping the space. Throughout the process, Mmofra maintained a commitment to sustainable design practices, such as sourcing local materials and building a compostable toilet. The ultimate plan is for Mmofra Place to include a community garden, performance space, library, and mutiple green spaces. With a phased development strategy, some early improvements have already taken place. The community has helped create a modular play area, public art, vegetable plots and programming. With these LQC changes, children have already begun flocking to Mmofra Place.

Photo credits, all: Mmofra Foundation

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Website: mmofraghana.org

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