News
Design Charrette
Visual Storytelling Through Photography
December, 2025
The Global Design Initiative for Refugee Children (GDIRC) invites participants to a Design Charrette: Visual Storytelling through Photography on January 17, 2026, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Offices of HDR in Boston.
This collaborative workshop explores ethical visual storytelling through photography, focusing on lived experiences, memory, and imagination in the context of youth displacement. Participants will work individually or in pairs using submitted images to develop visual narratives and engage in group discussion.
RSVP by January 2, 2026, and submit 10–12 photographs by January 9, 2026 to take part.
End of Year Reflections from Our Professional Sponsors
December, 2025
“Architects and landscape architects, designers and students to senior firm leaders, we are so grateful to all of you for volunteering across the constraints of your regular lives and in collaboration with partners across the globe over these many years…Congratulations and thank you for what you’re doing to support our design community and to support refugee communities.”
— Gretchen Rabinkin, executive director, BSLA
“At the Boston Society for Architecture, we believe design is a civic act. GDIRC’s work reminds us that even in the most fragile and uncertain circumstances, thoughtful, child-centered design can restore dignity, ignite imagination, and support healing. Creating safe spaces for play and learning is not just an act of compassion; it is an investment in the future of entire communities. We are proud to support this work and the global network of designers, educators, and advocates working to ensure every child has a place to feel safe, seen, and inspired.”
__ Danyson Tavares & The Boston Society for Architecture
Weaving Dialogues
Open Sessions on Time Space Existence
September, 2025
This October, the Global Design Initiative for Refugee Children (GDIRC) will be presenting at the European Cultural Centre – Palazzo Michiel on October 9, 2025 (5:00–7:30 pm).
Our panel, “From Re-use to Regeneration: Play in At-Risk Environments”, will explore how design can create safe, child-centered spaces in displaced communities. We’ll also introduce our new initiative, Portable Play—a scalable, modular approach to building play interventions.
GDIRC Portable Play part of the Time Space Existence Exhibit in Venice
From 10 May to 23 November 2025
April, 2025
We are grateful to be heading to Venice during the Biennale to take part in Time Space Existence. We’re eager to share our work, featuring two prototypes for portable play. GDIRC’s work will be on display, contributing to the discussion and raising awareness through art and design about the plight of refugee children worldwide and their essential need to play in times of trauma.
With a special thanks to our sponsors making it possible for the work to be showcased in Venice: Schooner Foundation, BSA, BSLA, Mass College of Arts and Design, HDR and Arrowstreet
GDIRC receives grant to create portable play for refugee children
October, 2024
We are honored to announce that we have received a grant from the Schooner Foundation, supporting our dedication to creating inclusive, child-centered designs worldwide. This grant enables us to further our mission to make play accessible, inclusive, and impactful for all children around the world.
Celebrating Gretchen Rabinken’s Recognition
August, 2024
We are proud to acknowledge Gretchen (Schneider) Rabinkin, a valued member of the GDIRC community, for receiving the 2024 GSD Alumni Council Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates her exceptional contributions and leadership in design and education.
Congratulations to Gretchen on this well-deserved achievement!
GDIRC featured on BSA News
May 18, 2023
We are featured on bsa news!
As a knowledge community within the Boston Society for Architecture and the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, we are dedicated to expanding our understanding and promoting the immense benefits of play, especially in challenging situations.
Panel presentation at TransCultural Exchange’s 2022 International Conference on Opportunities in the Arts: Create the Future
Nov 5, 2022
Our member, Mitch Ryerson, artist and professor at MassArt, presented at the panel - Social Challenges, Artistic Interventions. The presentation showcased examples of different playgrounds that GDIRC has worked on and described some upcoming projects. It sheds light on how artists and designers can contribute to positive social changes.
Unity Park opens to rave reviews on Blue Hill Avenue
May 25, 2022
A group of excited neighbors and partners gathered on Blue Hill Avenue on Monday afternoon (May 23) for the grand opening of Unity Park, a 5,000 square-foot community space owned by Lena Park Community Development Corp.
A Year in Review 2021
January, 2022
As the new year begins, GDIRC is reflecting on 2021 and our time as a group. Five years after its first project for Syrian Child refugees, GDIRC continues to support the design and implementation of playground around the world. We want to thank all of our collaborators for their time, energy, and expertise.
Help Movement on the Ground to Fundraise for Playground in Lesvos
June 25, 2021
In the summer of 2021 we helped our local partner - Movement on the Ground to fundraise for the pilot playground project in Mavrovouni Camp, Lesbos, Greece. The construction was finished in September 2021.
Beyond Encampment Conversation
March 18, 2021
Nathalie Beauvais & Shirine Boulos Anderson presented at the Beyond Encampment Conversation today about GDIRC’s work in building playground for refugees.
2020 Collaborative Achievement Award: Global Design Initiative for Refugee Children
May 08, 2020
“This award will increase national and international awareness of the dire state of refugees, raise awareness about the need for public spaces at all scales of design intervention, and provide access to an innovative collaborative process.”
AIA 2020 Collaborative Achievement Award
January 17, 2021
We are pleased to announce that we are recipients of the 2020 American Institute of Architects awards.