Students at the Tân Bình District Support Centre for Inclusive Education play at their new therapeutic water playground in April. — VNS Photo Việt Dũng

HCM CITY — Tân Bình District Support Centre for Inclusive Education has received a therapeutic water playground designed for children with learning disabilities sponsored by the New Zealand embassy in Việt Nam and other donors.

During the handover of the playground on Friday, Hà Thanh Vân, director of the centre, told Việt Nam News: “This is indescribable joy for us. Our centre is really small with limited facilities, but today we received an incredible gift, a therapeutic water playground for children to play, learn and get treatment.”

In February Think Playgrounds, a social enterprise that builds playgrounds for children, undertook the work, which was also funded by 14,723 donations on the MoMo e-wallet crowdfunding platform.

The water playground, meant for 140 children, measures 72.5m2 and has water jets and shower heads that spray a fine mist, and a 20cm deep wading pool.

Besides play activities it will also enable teachers to provide physical therapy for students.

Water therapy through play is thought to provide various benefits to children's physical and mental health, especially for those with disabilities.

Scott James, New Zealand consul general in HCM City at the playground handover ceremony. The New Zealand embassy in Hà Nội is the main sponsor of the playground. — VNS Photo Việt Dũng

Vân said: “Many of our students can get hyperactive, and through water therapy they can be calmer, less stressed, less hyperactive, and be more co-operative with teachers in their studies.”

Scott James, the Consul General of New Zealand in HCM City, said: “New Zealand is very passionate about helping develop children, particularly children with disabilities and neurodivergent children.”

It would also be open to neurodivergent students from other inclusive education centres nearby, he said.

He hoped the experience drawn from this project could be used to bring more play-learning models for children with disabilities.

Vũ Khánh Tuyết Trinh, mother of a nine-year-old student at the centre, said after a month of trying out the new playground, her son is very happy to go to school and love to check it out first before entering classes.

As part of the inaugural ceremony, the New Zealand embassy also gave gifts of its country’s milk and apples to children.

The students at the centre range from five to 19 years of age, and have developmental disabilities. — VNS

Students at the centre receive gifts of New Zealand apples and milk. — VNS Photo Việt Dũng

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