Dr Hovithal Sothu, Project Director of Task Force for Music & Arts cutting the ribbon during the opening of ‘My Playland’, an initiative of Avikuo Tepa (R) at Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima on August 17. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 17
With the prime objective of providing a safe space for children where they can play, have fun and create lasting memories, “My Playland”, an initiative undertaken by Avikuo Tepa was formally inaugurated today by Dr Hovithal Sothu, Project Director of Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA).
Located at Capital Cultural Hall in Kohima, some of the features of My Playland include spiral stairs to the crater of the volcano, lava obstacle course, maze, dinosaur fossil hunt, rock climbing, slide, cave especially for children to get over their fears for darkness.
Talking about the initiative, Avikuo Tepa said, “As we started the work of making this place, it was quite challenging” while expressing that, “we have the dream but not the resources.”
However, he subsequently started thinking of ways to build “My Playland” with locally available resources. “Whatever you see in this place is made in Nagaland,” he affirmed.
Stating that the journey has been challenging, he said that the support of family and friends who came forward to help with materials, finance and prayer support made it easier.
Along the process, he further recalled that, “it was quite interesting because it was all trials and error.” He also recalled how during the process, some of his nephews and nieces got injured while playing.
“Accordingly through the injuries and small accidents we were able to develop, improvise and make changes along the way. Today it's a safe place for them to come and experience something different from home,” he stated.
Tepa also informed that “My Playland” will be open to public from Monday, August 19, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It will also be open for children events and a Day Care facility in the near future.
Addressing the opening of “My Playland”, Dr. Hovithal Sothu, Project Director of TaFMA recalled his close association with Avikuo Tepa and congratulated him on the new venture.
He remarked that, “when someone lives his/her dreams, that is the acme of achievement.” Substantiating to this, he said, “He dreamt of something, he did it today and that's the acme in one's achievement.”
Lauding him for doing something out of the box, he said, “in a small place like Kohima where no one ever thought of setting up something like this, and where all of us don't really know what will happen tomorrow, whether it's going to rain or there will be sunshine or landslide, no one is ever certain of what is going to happen but Avikuo got his dream clear and he did it out of the box for Naga people.”
Whatever he has done today, he expressed confidence that it will benefit a lot of people, children and parents. As a safe place for children, he added that parents won't have to worry. He thanked Avikuo Tepa “for creating a space for us to enjoy and live our lives as expected so that small boys and girls can come and live their lives out here.”
Earlier, Kopele Tepa chaired the programme while Zhaviu, Pastor, Christian Revival Mission Church, Kohima said the prayer.
