Spencer Lodge was so inspired by his next guest after spending a week with him in Rwanda that he just had to have him on the show. Reza Marvasti is the Founder and CEO of The Power of Play – an NGO that builds sustainable playgrounds for children in underprivileged communities worldwide. Spencer invited Reza to the YouTube channel to discuss his journey.
It was a summer evening in 2019, and I’m just chilling at a friend’s party. Then bam, I bump into Reza, the founder of The Power of Play. Next thing you know, I’m knee-deep in the world of TPOP as a digital marketer. But, it didn’t stop there. I got so hooked on their mission for kids, that I took a giant leap and became the treasurer on the board. I was rocking the Treasurer hat for two years, handling all sorts of stuff.
Now, the real kicker? In 2023, I helped disassemble a playground in Kitsilano and hauled it to the First Nation of Lytton. Talk about an adventure! We put that playground back together, and it was like magic. Unforgettable doesn’t even cover it. The Power of Play, it’s not just a name; it’s a whole vibe, and I live for it!
Flashback to December 2023, Reza and I went to Tanzania to build the biggest playground TPOP has ever built! We crafted over 20 elements for 1,000 Maasai children in a village near Makayuni. I’m telling you, it was total heaven! Nature, field work, playing football with local volunteers, and sunset games with the kids each day. It was a beautiful adventure. The playground’s grand opening was a pure roller coaster of emotions. Excitement and pride, but also, a bittersweet note knowing tomorrow meant saying goodbye to those playful angels.
Fast forward to now, the journey keeps getting better. We’re teaming up with Emily Carr University on a project for kids’ mental health — creating an interactive object! TPOP isn’t just about play; it’s a world of experiences. To all you potential donors and volunteers, this is not just a pitch, it’s my life-changing adventure, and I’m throwing an open invitation for you to join the ride! Trust me, there’s nowhere else you’d want to be. Let’s keep the TPOP magic rolling!
In our collective efforts, we possess the ability to transform the lives of future generations, building a brighter future, one playground at a time.
By contributing a mere $12, you can make a lasting impact at https://thepowerofplay.ca/donate/. Your generous donations empower children to embrace the joy of childhood, allowing them to simply be kids. Join us in making a difference!
“Reza Marvasti: Unlocking The Power Of Play For A Better Future.”
Podcast with Spencer Lodge & CEO Reza Marvasti__Searching for the meaning of life? This NGO may have found an answer.
Feeling like being inspired today? PODCAST ALERT A Must listen!
Spencer Lodge hosted The Power of Play’s CEO and founder, Reza Marvasti, on The Spencer Lodge Podcast. Reza shared how The Power of Play started, its work, and what inspired Reza’s journey to “Let kids be kids.”
Reza Marvasti is the Founder and CEO of The Power of Play, an NGO that builds sustainable playgrounds for children in underprivileged communities.
Reza is a former extreme athlete who, after a life-changing event, went on a journey of self-discovery.⠀⠀⠀⠀
This led him to discover his life’s purpose of creating safe spaces for children who have experienced extreme hardship. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
By doing this, kids rediscover childhood, process trauma, and make sense of the world through creativity and play.
In Spencer’s latest episode on the podcast, he talks with Reza about:
His difficult childhood
Finding the Meaning of Life
How The Power of Play operates and builds playgrounds
Spencer and his team came to Rwanda last month to help us build a playground. The time spent and getting to know Spencer was nothing short of wonderful. Huge THANK YOU to him and his team for supporting us on our mission to support every child’s right to learn and develop through the power of play.
Reza’s story and foundation are truly inspirational and I know his story will change your outlook on life.
“The Power of Play and how a thrill-seeking Canadian entrepreneur became a tireless benefactor of children Africa and around the world”- written by Tom Bussen
Thank you, Tom, for this wonderful write up in Readers Digest Canada of TPOP’s Founder & CEO Reza Marvasti and the journey of how our wonderful organization came to be!
Danielle Riberio from Great.com interviewed The Power Of Play’s CEO and Founder, Reza Marvasti, as part of their ‘Great.com Talks With…‘ podcast. This series is an antidote to negative news stories that aims to shed light on organizations and experts whose work is making a positive impact on the world.
A playground is a relatively safe environment where kids can express themselves. You see children playing different games, from free play games to imaginary play games, pretend play, and active play. Playgrounds are essential for early childhood education and development. That’s why in this episode, Danielle spoke with Reza.
“We are a nonprofit organization that builds outdoor play areas.” Reza says that children explore the world through play. Kindergarten children play peek-a-boo to learn about the environment. But not just that, children learn about the world through play.
You can also watch the interview on The Power of Play Youtube here.
Building Together Through The Power Of Play
Our organization encourages playful learning through our playgrounds. It is a form of escapism that many young children need to cope with stress and trauma. If an adult needs therapy to cope with harmful effects, children need creative play, outdoor play, free play, and other forms to deal with the same effects.
Great.com is an organization aimed at solving the world’s most dire problem — global climate change. Starting in New Jersey, their mission is to take money from an otherwise harmful and greedy industry (online casinos) and move it towards a positive and good cause (solving the climate crisis). In addition to directly donating 100% of the revenue they earn in the casino industry, they also launch and manage fundraising campaigns to persuade casino entrepreneurs to donate. So far, they’ve generated over $2 million to climate research through their own donations and proceeds from their fundraising initiatives.
Our youngest volunteer, Maria, joined The Power of Play (TPOP) when she was only 19 years old. After graduating high school, Maria decided she needed to explore the world, get to know herself and the meaning of her life before choosing a career or a specific university program in Germany. Originally, her plan was to go to South America to learn Spanish while volunteering there. However, COVID-19 decided otherwise, and Maria ended up in Rwanda for nine months. There, she met Reza, the founder of TPOP, in December 2020. He not only included her in the building of one of the first children’s playgrounds in Kerezo, Mubuga, Nyamagana and Nyarutovu, Rwanda, but also introduced her to many friends he had already made there. From the second day in Rwanda, Maria had a new family of people who were making a difference in the lives of the local children. She instantly fell in love with the people of Rwanda and The Power of Play.
Over the next nine months, Maria learned how to use power tools, help design a playground, build a swing, manage an entire playground build, and how to promote TPOP on social media. She gained invaluable skills as a project manager, carpenter, painter, community organizer, and social media manager. This experience guided Maria to get to know herself further, to understand what she enjoys, and what she truly wants in life. Being hands on, on the ground, and impacting children is a lasting joy and a passion that will help guide her in the future years to come. While volunteering for TPOP, Maria learned to enjoy being in the moment. She also discovered that she enjoys working with children and watching them play. Her enthusiasm for Rwanda and The Power of Play’s projects infected her entire family. In July of 2021, they joined her in Mukingo, Rwanda, including her younger brother Tomek to help build The Power of Play’s fifth playground. Tom really enjoyed helping with the playground build, the same way Maria’s parents enjoyed supporting the people of Mukingo with clothes and medical assistance. Maria did not only develop experience in building and managing playgrounds for TPOP, but she also started a Mental Health Coaching online education program while in Rwanda. Her own personal development while working for TPOP inspired her to learn more about mental health. Through this online program, Maria learned how to deal with difficult life situations and how to help others to do the same. The 19-year-old teenager who left for Rwanda has become a mature young lady that has developed a passion for helping others. She has acquired greater cultural sensitivity, become more adept at intercultural communication,learned about community development and outreach, and has learned to engage with diverse populations and project beneficiaries, thanks to volunteering for TPOP for nine months Why should YOU become a volunteer for TPOP? Maybe you are ready to take part in a project that makes a difference in children’s lives. Maybe you want to experience different cultures and other people’s lives. Or maybe you want to grow personally, learn new skills and see purpose in your daily life. Whatever stage of life you are in right now, I can promise you that it can be as beautiful and fulfilling as Maria’s life has become through volunteering with The Power of Play.
Building Playgrounds for Children: Creating Joyful Spaces
“Looking back, it seems like my life has been planned by design. Everything I have learned over the years—business management, construction, automotive and industrial design—I have fully utilized while building playgrounds for children.”
And so, Reza embarked on a mission to construct playgrounds for underprivileged children around the world. His goal was simple: to allow kids to be kids, regardless of their circumstances. Whether they were child soldiers, children of prisoners, or orphans in disadvantaged countries, Reza wanted them to grow up with the freedom to play and dream.
But what does it take to build a playground for children in these countries?
Over time, The Power of Play (TPOP) has honed a system for constructing sustainable playgrounds. This recipe for success consists of several crucial ingredients:
First and foremost, whenever TPOP ventures into a new country, it strives to connect with a local NGO that has already laid the groundwork, the road map to the playground should be also seen in the about us sector of the website. This partnership saves valuable time and resources. The local NGO is familiar with the areas where playgrounds are most needed. Playgrounds are built in locations that can impact at least 400 children in areas where access to playgrounds is limited. Such areas may include orphanages, prisons, low-income schools, and refugee camps. The local NGO also aids in securing free land for the playground, often owned by the aforementioned institutions. The idea is to avoid purchasing land, as managing it would be challenging and would divert financial resources from the playground structures. Depending on the available space, each playground consists of ten to sixteen play elements.
TPOP does not assume it knows what the children need. Instead, they engage with the community, offering their services and asking how they can cater to their specific needs. The projects are executed through community collaboration.
After selecting the location, TPOP interacts directly with the children, asking them how they like to play. This step is crucial as it ignites the children’s creativity. Through drawing and expressing their ideas, the children become the true designers of their playgrounds. Empowering them to shape their own play spaces gives them a voice and fosters a belief in their unique creative abilities.
To bring the children’s play ideas to life, TPOP has a catalog of multiple different tire structures. Each playground includes five essential elements:
Slides for the thrilling rush of going down.
Swings to experience the back-and-forth motion.
Climbing structures, such as monkey bars, strengthen their bodies.
Walk-on equipment to develop balance skills.
Teeter-totters to learn teamwork and cooperation.
Consideration is given to the age range of the children when designing a new playground, ensuring inclusivity. In some instances, a volleyball or football court is built adjacent to the children’s playground, providing space for older kids and teenagers to socialize and engage in physical activities together.
Once the final playground design is agreed upon, TPOP conducts a material breakdown and procures all the necessary components. Certain parts require welding, which is done at local welding shops. Subsequently, all the materials are transported to the playground site. TPOP takes pride in the fact that all its projects are completed using local labor and locally sourced materials. Through these projects, new skills are taught, positively impacting the local economies.
Thirdly, TPOP involves local individuals, including parents, teachers, and other volunteers, in the construction process. This inclusion fosters a sense of belonging and ownership among the community members. The locals take pride in building a playground for their children, which ensures that the playground receives proper care and maintenance. Additionally, community members have the opportunity to learn construction skills, fostering personal growth. Once the playground is built, children assist in painting it, gaining real-life experience and further strengthening their connection to the space <3.
After the completion of the construction, a maintenance guide is provided for a local individual chosen to oversee the care of the playground. Through proper maintenance, these playgrounds can last for an average of eight to ten years.
If the playground is constructed within an institution, such as a school or orphanage, the institution provides TPOP with a report detailing how the playground is utilized and its impact on the children’s development.
Furthermore, TPOP ensures that all materials and workers are sourced locally. The organization repurposed materials like cars and primarily used tires, taking advantage of the abundance of discarded tires in many countries. Acquiring used tires can be challenging in these regions, as they are often repurposed for items like sandals or carpets.
TPOP also provides training for its local workforce, offering valuable experience in project management, carpentry, welding, and teamwork. Typically, TPOP builds a minimum of four playgrounds in each country, allowing workers to receive comprehensive training and potentially seek other construction opportunities afterward. These trained workers are compensated with fair wages, enabling them to support their families.
Lastly, the cost of constructing a playground varies depending on the country and its size, but on average, it amounts to approximately CAD 20,000.
Now, armed with knowledge about the process of building children’s playgrounds in impoverished countries, you understand the extensive preparation and resources required. While not everyone can directly participate in the preparation phase, there are opportunities to contribute financially. If you feel compelled to be a part of the next playground project and bring smiles to children’s faces, you can make a donation here (link).
Together, we can make a difference and create spaces where children can experience the joy and wonder of play.
“I was jumping from one thing to another when it comes to school and jobs, but I was never fulfilled. I started something, became proficient at it, and then switched. I just couldn’t find that one thing that would make me feel truly alive. I’ve always been drawn to adventure and adrenaline sports, so I became an adrenaline junkie…”
At the age of 19, Reza relocated to Canada. He had already spent a year studying electronics at a university in Iran. However, upon arriving in Vancouver, he veered away from that path. He dabbled in business management for a while, then shifted to industrial design, automotive technology, and later construction management. Despite his pursuits, he couldn’t discover the school or job that would bring him genuine fulfillment.
Concern began to cloud Reza’s family’s minds. They suggested he choose one path and commit to it for a longer period of time. Reza attempted to heed their advice, immersing himself in one pursuit, becoming proficient, but still feeling that it wasn’t the “thing” for him. And so, the search persisted, with years passing by and various professions being explored.
As time went on, Reza’s worries grew. He felt as though he was squandering valuable time, constantly shifting between different jobs and educational paths without making any substantial progress. Turning 30 only amplified his concerns, as he remained uncertain about a long-term career. And then, he passed 30, feeling disenchanted with his life.
In an attempt to find solace and excitement amidst his dissatisfaction with his professional life, Reza sought thrills through adventurous sports. Ice climbing, snowmobiling, speed flying (a blend of paragliding and base jumping)—he embraced them all. However, these adrenaline-fueled endeavors were not without their dangers. Reza had several near-death experiences during his pursuits, with one incident involving his friend Kyle, a speed-flying icon of that time. Reza borrowed a wing from Kyle for a jump near the city of Hope, only to encounter a malfunction that caused him to plummet from the sky. Though battered, bruised, and scraped by trees, he miraculously survived. Tragically, Kyle attempted a similar jump two days later but did not make it. A week after the accident, Kyle’s daughter came into the world.
This harrowing experience served as a profound wake-up call for Reza. It compelled him to reflect on the countless opportunities life had presented him. There had to be a greater purpose, a deeper meaning. He realized that he had been squandering his life, lacking a sense of purpose. In search of clarity, Reza embarked on a journey to the Amazon forest, seeking solitude and meditation to listen to his inner calling and find his true purpose.
During his travels, Reza found himself passing through La Paz, where he had a transformative revelation. Witnessing children living and working on the streets, he discerned a significant absence in their lives—play. The carefree enjoyment of childhood, the essence that had helped him cope with the war experiences in Iran, was missing from their existence.
At that moment, Reza’s purpose became clear. He recognized that he had a role to play in restoring joy and playfulness to the lives of these children. Inspired by his own resilience and the healing power of play, he knew it was his calling to make a difference. The journey to adulthood had brought him to this pivotal realization, and he was ready to embark on a new chapter dedicated to serving those in need.
Play it forward
