Works in progress…Everyone who spends time at The Shoe4Africa Children’s Village – whether they are patients, parents, doctors, medical students, or donors being given a tour – leaves with a profound sense that this is no ordinary center for healing the sick child. Few cities can offer such a large green space of healing smack in the center of the city. But imagine a ‘Disney Land for kids’ with Medical excellence and you’ll start to understand our vision
When a child approaches a medical center typically you’ll have apprehension and maybe fear. Our buildings are tapered to lessen the perception of height, colorful child-themed paints are used, likely that kids will hear laughter from the patients playing on our soccer pitch, or our basketball court, or maybe playing on our play station and trampoline. All this begins the healing even before the child steps into our center.
Since opening our doors, on Aug 12th, 2015, we have treated over 1,300,000 million children, created thousands of jobs and remain the only dedicated public children’s hospital in East & Central Africa.
Why?
Perhaps it’s because the ‘Village’ based around our Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital will care for around 255,500 patients each year in 2026, most of whom come from exceptionally poor and marginalized communities. Patients are referred to us from not only Western Kenya but also from neighboring African countries. It should be noted that there isn’t a single public children’s hospital in East and Central Africa outside of our facilities.
Key facilities at the village —
1. The Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital, (opened 2015)
2. The Shoe4Africa Eat n Run Kitchens, (opened in 2017)
3. The Shoe4Africa Lindi Room, (outdoor annexed building of play, opened 2017)
4. The Shoe4Africa Markus F. Room, (outdoor annexed room opened in 2017*)
7. The Shoe4Africa Basketball Court, opened in 2018
8. The Shoe4Africa Soccer Pitch, opened in 2019
5. The Shoe4Africa Kuunga Mkono Library, opened in 2019
6. The Shoe4Africa Kuunga Mkono Classrooms, opened in 2019
9. The Shoe4Africa Idella Rome Consultant’s House. (opened 2025)
10. The Shoe4Africa Juli Anne Perry Children’s Cancer Hospital, (planned opening Mar 2026)
11. The MTRH Harry Dyer Burns Unit, (planned opening Mar 2026)
13. The Shoe4Africa Katie House (Women’s Hostel) (planning stages)
12. Lion Park concept stage (see latest update below).
Noted outside the Children’s Village
14. A mosque, a catholic church, a SDA church, and an inter-denominational church.
15. Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital (MTRH) is a Multi-Specialty International Teaching and Referral Hospital serving Kenya, Eastern Uganda, Northern Tanzania, Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo with a population of over 25 million. The Shoe4Africa village treats all the children from MTRH.
*This building, 4, was opened as a music/arts therapy room, yet currently being used as a Mother/Child Health clinic for inoculations, nutrition, HIV testing and more.
Those who pass through the doors tell us that the Hospital does far more than treat these patients each year – it embodies the hope of a healthy childhood, the unwavering faith of parents in healing, and the dedication of medical professionals to prevention and cure.
The heart of the center, opened in Eldoret in 2015, the Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital is the second stand-alone tertiary hospital in sub-Saharan Africa dedicated entirely to child public healthcare, following the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in South Africa, which opened in 1956.
While delivering world-class pediatric treatment and care, we strive to make the greatest impact possible and empower others to do the same. We are a teaching hospital for the Moi University Medical School, providing training to pediatric healthcare professionals. We also conduct groundbreaking research into childhood illnesses that has a global impact.
At The Shoe4Africa Children’s Village, we inspire hope, foster healing, and pave the way for a healthier future for children across Africa.
Concept Plan
The satellite image below (Google, March 2024) provides a snapshot of the site’s layout. As the updated drone photo above illustrates, significant progress has been made since then. The only major project yet to begin construction is the Women’s Hostel, for which fundraising is currently underway, with the goal of breaking ground in early 2026.
The asterisk (*) marks a location where we believe a natural underground spring exists. We are currently seeking a grant to develop this spring into a solar-powered water source, with the aim of providing clean, sustainable water not only to our hospital campus but also to the neighboring Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) complex.
Latest Update
For the wooded area, in front of the cancer hospital, we are now planning a park for kids. Working title ‘Lion Park.’
The Vision
Imagine a magical, Disney-like outdoor space where:
- Children suffering from cancer can play freely on swings, slides, climbing frames, and see-saws with an underground area of rubber mats for safety in a semi-wooded safe area. They will be close to the other hospital patients, but be totally separated from unwanted germs/diseases that could be fatal to their compromised immune systems.
- Parents, patients, and caregivers can rest in shaded thatch huts—designed as safe, peaceful palliative care spaces—listening to the gentle gurgle of the Sosiani River.
- Families find respite from long treatment days in a place designed for joy, connection, and healing.
- A health walk jogging loop around the perimeter
Why It Matters
The journey of pediatric cancer treatment is exhausting, emotionally draining, and often isolating—especially in sub-Saharan Africa where support facilities are rare. By creating a safe, beautiful recreational area adjacent to the hospital, The Park addresses several of LCIF’s recommended grant priorities:
- Enhancing healthcare environments by creating outdoor spaces for waiting and recovery.
- Supporting children’s emotional health through play and recreation.
- Providing palliative care support in a comforting, natural setting.
The Design
- Playground Zone: Colorful, inclusive equipment for children of all ages and abilities.
- Side walls: ensuring privacy from the outside world
- Rest & Reflection Areas: Thatched huts offering a bit of seclusion in the park.
- Safety Infrastructure: The secure wall along the side perimeter and a chain-link fence with concrete posts in front of the Sosiani River.
- Landscaping: Lush greenery, flowering plants, and shaded pathways.
- Solar lit: Even in the evenings, patients, parents, and staff will be using the park.
- 24/7 CCTV security: Linked tot he hospital’s security firm.
1. Inclusive & Accessible Play Structures
Look for equipment that welcomes children of all abilities—especially children with medical needs or disabilities. Key features include wheelchair-accessible ramps, inclusive swings, and sensory play panels at ground level to promote cooperative play Soft Playinqilaplay.com.
2. Sensory-Rich Equipment
Sensory play enhances cognitive and emotional development and helps children relax in a clinical setting. Consider tactile panels, musical elements (like sound boards), visually stimulating components, and proprioceptive or vestibular equipment (e.g., movement-based structures) Soft Playinqilaplay.com.
3. Therapeutic Soft Play & Custom Indoor Solutions
Soft Play specializes in healthcare settings—using antimicrobial, easy-to-clean materials that exceed safety standards. They offer modular designs, branded themes, and ADA-compliant accessibility healthhighroad.com.
4. Healing Outdoor Themes
Outdoor playgrounds infused with nature and sensory elements—as done by Landscape Structures—are proven to reduce stress and support healing. Designs like rooftop gardens or coastal-themed play zones (sea creatures, nature motifs) help connect children with a sense of calm and wonder healthhighroad.com.
5. Safe & Age-Appropriate Surfacing
Safety surfaces are essential. Options like poured-in-place rubber, engineered wood fiber, or rubber tiles cushion falls and support mobility devices WikipediaPMC. Spaces should also be divided by age group—ideas like toddler-friendly zones with low platforms and older kids’ areas with climbers or obstacle challenges are essential for safety and engagement inqilaplay.comUPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
6. Quiet & Restorative Spaces
Hospital environments can overwhelm. Quiet zones—shaded retreats, sensory nooks, and enclosed bubbles—offer emotional respite and make the playground inviting for neurodiverse children Soft PlaySpecial Education Needs and Disabilities.
Inspiration in Action
- A children’s hospital in Minneapolis created an IV-friendly slide and themed this playground after local wildlife—including elephant trunks and manta ray climbers—making it both accessible and magical .
- Missouri’s therapy center features a wildlife-themed play setup with sensory mist features and a giraffe sensory wall—bridging therapy and play in a visually engaging way Landscape Structures Inc.
Summary: Best-in-Class Playground Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Inclusive Structures | Ramps, sensory panels, adaptive swings for all abilities |
| Sensory Elements | Touch, sound, balance, and visual stimulation panels |
| Soft Play Modules | Safe, customizable themed components for indoors |
| Nature-Inspired Design | Gardens, animal motifs, healing outdoor landscapes |
| Safe Surfacing | ADA-compliant, shock absorbent surfaces |
| Age-Zoned Layout | Separate areas for toddlers and older children |
| Quiet Zones | Calm spaces for rest and sensory regulation |
Final Thoughts
A hospital playground should be more than just fun—it should be therapeutic, inclusive, safe, and healing. With thoughtful design and playful creativity—like the examples above—you can create a space where every child feels welcomed, strengthened, and inspired.
