Where Play Meets Purpose: KIKinitiative’s Quest to Uplift Rural African Communities

Living in Atlanta, Georgia, having playgrounds within five to ten minutes of our home became essential to our family’s well-being. For the past six years, these spaces have shaped not only our daughter Kensli’s childhood but also our own journey as parents. From the moment she learned to walk until now, as a joyful six-year-old, Kensli has spent nearly four days a week playing at local parks. Each time, she had the opportunity to build friendships, develop motor skills, and learn from the world around her.

For us, as parents, these moments at the playground were just as fulfilling as they were for her. They gave us a chance to breathe — a rare opportunity to sit back, let Kensli explore, and connect with other parents and neighbors. After long workdays, it felt like a small but meaningful escape.

Watching her race to the swings, climb with determination, and slide down with joy, we could exhale and truly unwind. These moments became little pockets of peace for our family.

The playgrounds gave Kensli a sense of freedom she didn’t have indoors. There, under the open sky, she could run without limits, play without boundaries, and simply be a kid. Many of these parks were connected to community centers, which we stumbled upon by chance — originally just drawn to their bathrooms (something every parent understands!). But these centers turned out to be much more than we expected. They became hubs of opportunity, offering wellness resources, learning programs, and community events that gave us new ways to spend time together as a family. When weekends crept up on us without a plan, these events filled our calendar and gave us something to look forward to.

Playgrounds and community spaces like these have become woven into the fabric of our lives. I honestly can’t imagine life without them. Picking up Kensli from school and heading straight to the playground has become our weekly ritual. It feels like our own version of happy hour — as Kensli races toward the swings and slides, we sit on a bench beneath the trees, soaking in the peace that only comes when your child is both safe and joyful.

These experiences have made me reflect on my own childhood. Growing up in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the only playground I had access to was at my private elementary school. There were none in our neighborhood. Back then, my friends and I made do by playing in the streets of II Plateaux Sanon. While we had fun, the concrete roads were far from ideal. Still, we played because it was all we had.

My husband, Dieudonné, had even fewer options. He attended school in Lomé, Togo, where there were no playgrounds at all. His childhood memories are filled with makeshift soccer games on the dusty streets, without any designated spaces for kids to play freely or safely.

Experiencing what playgrounds and community spaces have done for Kensli and our family here in Atlanta inspired us to think: What if children in rural communities across Africa had the same opportunities? What if parents and families could enjoy these simple but profound experiences of play and connection?

This is the heart of "KIKinitiative: Kick It with Kensli initiative"— a dream born from the joy we’ve found in community spaces and the desire to bring that same joy to others, inspired by Kensli.

KIKinitiative was founded to create safe playgrounds and vibrant community hubs in rural and under-resourced areas across Africa. These spaces will be more than places to play — they will be spaces where children develop physically and emotionally, where families connect, and where communities grow stronger together.

Our goal is to address the lack of play infrastructure and community spaces across the continent, ensuring that children, along with their communities, grow up happy, healthy, and ready for life. We believe that these hubs can foster a sense of belonging, provide access to resources, and offer families the joy of connection — just as we’ve experienced in Atlanta.

Because a safe place to play isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. And every child, no matter where they live, deserves the chance to run, laugh, explore, and grow.

This is the story of Kikinitiative — a movement to build a future where children can play freely and communities can thrive. Together, we can create spaces that nurture joy, foster connection, and empower growth across Africa.


"Heloise Ahoure, Founder"