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OUR PROJECTS

BALDERAS ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND

BALDERAS CHILDREN'S CENTRE

WE ARE ETHIOPIA

ETHIO DAY

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ABOUT

Out of the Box is a fresh and innovative approach to developing and facilitating children, youth and community oriented spaces in urban and challenging environments in Ethiopia.

Working with children, communities, resident associations, architecture students and small scale businesses Out of the Box aims to build adventure playgrounds, art wall installations, permaculture gardens, social space and multipurpose community centres: inclusive of all ages, genders and abilities.

At its core Out of the Box aims to facilitate active community participation and engagement, whilst promoting the importance of play, cultural dialogue and exchange, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to PLAY, LEARN and SOCIALISE in their immediate community.

PLAY

LEARN

SOCIALISE

AIMS

BUILD

INSPIRE

ENABLE

Adventure playgrounds, art walls, permaculture gardens, social space and community centres: inclusive of all ages, genders and abilities

Creative and dynamic partnerships between individuals, communities and organisations in the Addis Ababa and the UK

Creative design from children, communities, Ethiopian architecture students & experts in bamboo & locally sourced/recycled materials

EMPOWER

PROMOTE

CELEBRATE

Children, communities, Resident Associations, students and small scale businesses in the design, construction and long term maintenance of the sites

The importance of investing in play, early childhood learning and the provision of youth, community and safe/social spaces in urban and challenging environments

The efforts of communities and children and Ethiopian culture through opening events and fundraising activities in Ethiopia and the UK

GET IN TOUCH

West End House

33 Lower Richmond Road

London

SW14 7EZ

Tel: +44 (0)20 8878 8940

MEET THE TEAM

Sally Duncan

CEO and Founder

Regbe Hagos

Estifanos Kiflu

Haileyesus Girma

OTB Project Manager

Rahel Girma

OTB Project Manager

Mita Hailu

OTB Operations Manager

Joanna Ayre

OTB Creative Director

Children, Young People and the Commu

OTB Designers, Builders and Champions

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SEE OUR PARTNERS & FRIENDS

MEET THE TEAM

Sally Duncan

CEO and Founder
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Sally grew up in Manchester but now spends her time between London and Ethiopia. A social development practitioner, Sally has worked for a number of organisation including Oshun Partnership, DFID and the Ethiopian NGO CHADET. She hold a BA in Social Anthropology and Development Studies from SOAS and a MSc in Social Development Practice from the Development Planning Unit at UCL. In 2013 Sally lived in Balderas Condominium where the idea for OTB was born...

Rahel Girma

OTB Project Manager
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Rahel was raised in London but spent the first year of her life in Addis, and again when she was 10 years old. Her father is Ethiopian and mother is from the UK. Rahel speaks fluent amharic and spent 4 months helping to oversee the construction of the first ever adventure playground in Ethiopian at Balderas Condomium. In 2015 she completed her A-Levels in Geography, Psychology and English Literature and also spent 4 months volunteering in Nicaragua.

Regbe Hagos

OTB Architect
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Regbe was born in Addis Ababa and in 2015 received her bachelor degree in architecture from the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture Building and Construction (EiABC) in Addis Ababa. During her study, she participated in different research initiatives including; Sustainable Emerging City Unit (SECU) and Sustainable Incremental Construction Unit (SICU). Regbe now works at Sileshi architects and consulting engineers as well as being a lead OTB architect.

Estifanos Kiflu

OTB Architect
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Estifanos was born, raised and played in Addis Ababa. He gained his bachelor degree in Architecture from EiABC. Estifanos has worked on different socially responsible projects to address challenges and opportunities across Ethiopia, some of which has won local and international recognition and awards. Currently Estifanos is looking forward to perusing his career as an architect and playing his part in creating a better socially and spatially just environment for society.

Mita Haile

OTB Operations Manager
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Mita is originally from Arba Minch, a town in the South of Ethiopia. She holds a BA in Physics from Addis Ababa University and currently works as a primary school teacher - specialising in early years education as well as science. Mita has been involved with OTB project from the very start. She is passionate about children's learning environments and ensuring they have a safe and stimulating space to play and learn.

Joanna Ayre

Creative Director

Children and Young People

OTB believes that children and young people living in a community should be involved in the design and build process of a new play space. OTB conducts children’s design workshops to gather their input and encourages children and young people of all ages, abilities and genders to participate building play equipment, painting art walls, planting gardens and organising the opening ceremony!

EiABC Students, Staff and Addis Volunteers

OTB is very grateful for the support, help and input we have from students and staff at the EiABC and Addis based volunteers. Such valuable people kindly provide us with technical assistance and advice as well as lending us a hand in building, planting, painting and celebrating with us once we have completed a project!

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SEE OUR TRUSTEES, PARTNERS & FRIENDS

Rahel Girma

OTB Project Manager - Rahel was raised in London but spent the first year of her life in Addis, and again when she was 10 years old. Her father is Ethiopian and mother is from the UK. Rahel speaks fluent amharic and spent 4 months helping to oversee the construction of the first ever adventure playground in Ethiopian at Balderas Condomium. In 2015 she completed her A-Levels in Geography, Psychology and English Literature and also spent 4 months volunteering in Nicaragua.