Armenia's economic crisis and subsequent decrease in government spending on education have resulted in a lack of educational and leisure activities for children, which severely affects their physical and psychological well-being. Poverty has become the main enemy of Armenia's children, the key factor hindering their development and a force affecting every aspect of life.

Development benefits of playground activity are numerous and include increased imagination and creativity, enhanced thought and reasoning skills, as well as improved motor skills.

Unfortunately, most Armenian children, especially those living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, are deprived of play opportunities to meet their social, intellectual, and physical needs.

One of the areas in which World Vision is planning to build a playground, is the Mush neighbourhood located in the Gyumri Area Development Program (ADP).

Most of the area is devoid of vegetation and the area is enveloped in dust during the scorching 40C+ summers. To make matters even worse, those places where they do play are located in and around semi-constructed buildings, as well as abandoned construction equipment and materials, which frequently leads to injuries.

World Vision remains committed to long term development programs to help Armenian's raise themselves from the depths of poverty and to provide a better future for their children. The construction of playgrounds and recreational areas will allow vulnerable children from Gyumri ADP communities to spend their extracurricular time playing and growing in a healthy and safe environment.