A new playground at Sunset Educare is transforming discarded padel and tennis balls into safe, sustainable play equipment.
Cape Town, South Africa (09 September 2025)- Playtime will never be the same! The children of Sunset Educare in Ravensmead had every reason to celebrate when they received their very first playground. Not just any playground, but one that is crafted entirely from recycled Padel and tennis balls.
The initiative, driven by Amazeballs, is showing how creativity and sustainability can spark real social change. In South Africa, close to 1.8 million padel and tennis balls are discarded each year, with each taking up to 400 years to decompose. Instead of letting them go to waste, Amazeballs is turning these balls into durable playground structures, reducing landfill waste while creating opportunities for skills development and job creation.
The playground installation at Sunset Educare was made possible through the Amazeballs x Racket & Ball Mandela Day fundraising tournament, which raised R21,000. Funds went towards building three safe and stimulating play structures, designed to encourage climbing, balancing, and sliding. Incredible activities for kids that can boost both fine and gross motor skills while sparking imagination and joy.
For the children, many of whom had never experienced proper play equipment before, the handover was a milestone.
“We cater to more than 120 children in Ravensmead, many of whom have never before had access to proper play equipment. My centre has always focused on offering quality education, and this equipment will help us make learning through play fun and accessible. We are truly grateful for this partnership and for the generosity that made it possible,” said Pamela Peterson, owner of Sunset Educare.
This playground is the first of many, thanks to a new partnership between Amazeballs and Grow ECD, a social enterprise supporting over 250 women-owned early childhood development centres across four provinces.
As Lesley Waterkeyn of Amazeballs explained, this initiative does more than create a playground.
“By transforming discarded padel balls into safe and stimulating playground furniture, Amazeballs is not only recycling waste but also creating joyful spaces where children can build essential motor skills and experience the happiness every child deserves. This is proof of what can happen when sustainability meets social good.”
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
https://youtu.be/Aiuscm7Tmik
by 