Who we are

An initiative born at the playground.

From the very beginning, our initiative came from something deeply personal. As residents of Armenia and as parents, we saw how little attention was given to children’s play and to the quality of inclusive play spaces.

We started to speak up, bring people together, and push for change. Over the past three years — and now as a registered NGO — we have seen real progress: awareness is growing, new projects are appearing, and the conversation is changing. Yet the need remains enormous, both in Yerevan and across Armenia.

Access to safe, inspiring and high-quality play spaces is not a luxury. It is a basic standard every child deserves.

The team

Parents and professionals.

Our team brings together professionals, engaged parents and responsible, proactive people who are ready to take initiative and work toward real results. This combination of expertise, energy and community commitment has allowed us to deliver several projects in a relatively short period of time.

Julia Anfilatova

Founder of the project · mother of 5

Hayk Zalibekyan

Architect of all current projects · father of 4

Sofia Chuklina

Grants and Partnerships Coordinator · mother of 2

Inga Abramyan

Events and marketing

Marina Sergeeva

Graphic designer

Gayane Markaryan

Manager and activist · mother of 2

…and the friends beside us

Yerevan for Kids is bigger than its core team. Friends of the initiative lend their advice, their voice and their trust whenever a project needs them.

Artur Gasparyan

Blogger and activist · advises the initiative

Hovannes Ispiryan

Entrepreneur

Nare Ispiryan

Manager, SMM and activist

Timur Matveev

Entrepreneur

What we believe

Playground equipment should be produced in Armenia, not imported from abroad.

Local manufacturing creates jobs, develops skills, opens new business opportunities and makes the process of building quality play spaces more affordable, sustainable and rooted in the local economy.

We stay closely connected to the city’s play infrastructure agenda — supporting local initiatives, joining focus groups and gathering residents’ feedback through our social media community. We regularly share these insights with local authorities, helping connect the real needs of families with the people who can act on them.

Latest projects

From concept to concrete.

Octopus-inspired climbing structure with slides — Vedi playground render

Vedi · under implementation · ~42M AMD

Public playground in central Vedi

A contemporary 350 m² community playground developed with municipal support from the Yerevan Municipality and the Vedi City Administration. The concept is built on open-ended play, imagination and movement: a signature octopus-inspired climbing structure with slides, nets and a lookout point, a toddler sensory zone, and a turtle sandbox with integrated seating — all guided by an inclusive, child-led play philosophy.

Stepanavan · Lori region · fundraising & build

The Elephant playground in Stepanavan

Our first crowdfunded build: a modern, safe, joyful public space in a residential green area, designed with an architect, agreed with the municipality, and built together with the local initiative Instepanavan. Climbing and sliding structure, swings, sandbox, trampolines, musical play equipment, and seating for families.

See the full project →

Gyumri · delivered

Arevamanuk Child Care Center

Playground equipment for the Arevamanuk Child Care Center at 69 Varpetats Street, Gyumri — designed by our team and fabricated locally in Armenia, from the workshop to installation on site.