NestingPlay is a social enterprise that has been around for over ten years now, successfully implementing projects both at home and abroad — including Kenya and India.
The beginning of NestingPlay - Our Story
The the founder of NestingPlay, knows firsthand what it's like to raise a child who has trouble fitting in. Her younger son, Áron, often found it hard to connect with other kids—he’d get left out of games, didn’t quite get the rules, and frequently felt excluded. Eszter knew that if she didn’t step in early, it could seriously affect his ability to make friends, feel part of the group, and build his confidence for the future.
As she looked around, she saw she wasn’t the only parent worried—many children face these same struggles, although for different reasons. That’s when she decided she needed to do something. Play seemed like the right way to go; after all, it’s how children naturally communicate and learn about the world around them.
Eszter and her team initially focused on playgrounds , designing a system of specialized equipment to help include children who are often seen as “problematic”, offering them the opportunity to experience genuine belonging. It worked and from there, they took the idea further by developing programs for parents and teachersto help support children who find it hard to engage or participate.
That’s how NestingPlay grew into a social enterprise, now running recognized programs for development and training around the globe. We’ve received several prestigious awards—such as the Award-Winning Entrepreneur title, the Ashoka Fellowship, and the Exceptional Women of Excellence award. Yet, for us, the most important feedback is those we receive about the children we’ve been able to help, giving them a shot at a happier, more fulfilling life.
People often ask us about our nameand why we chose it. The answer is simple: to us, “nest” symbolizes a safe space—the safety net we are thriving to provide for children who struggle with sensory, behavioral, or attention issues, the ones who find it hard to work with others and join in. And “play” is more than just the foundation of our method; it’s also the most natural way children learn, connect, and grow.
Our vision
Our vision is for the NestingPlay Method to become widely known, recognised and accepted. We believe that every child, no matter where they come from or where they live, deserves equal attention and opportunity.
Our mission
Our mission is to help children who come from tough backgrounds—whether it's because they have attention issues, sensory challenges, anxiety, or are dealing with a lot of stress—feel like they’re part of something bigger, a shared experience. We genuinely believe that forming connections, working together, and just enjoying each other's company isn’t a privilege but a basic right for all children.
Our methodology
The natural "rewiring" of the brain.
The NestingPlay method helps these children connect and interact with others more easily, so they can enjoy a happier childhood , avoid feeling socially isolated, and grow up to thrive as adults.
Our approach is based on observation and support: we pay close attention to how children behave and what they can do, then use tools and techniques to help them succeed in situations where they might otherwise get stuck.
Our methods are simple for any adult to understand — no special training needed — easy to use in any setting, and most importantly, they don't require any financial investment, making them accessible to everyone.
The focus isn’t on pulling children out of their community, but rather on offering activities that benefit the whole group while focusing on each child's unique needs., miközben a gyerek egyéni szükségletei vannak a középpontban.
The power of play
Play and playfulness are at the core of the NestingPlay method. To make play even more effective, we bring in tools and tips that help grab the child's attention, boost their focus, and keep them engaged.Play isn’t just a natural medium for children — it’s also a means for them to learn and connect with their peers.
So, where to use it?
Our method can be used wherever the child is – at home, at school, in kindergarten, in sports clubs, while hanging out with friends, or even at cultural events. We always include the adults as well — parents, teachers, coaches — because it’s their support that brings the method to life. We offer training programs, webinars, and education programs designed to help adults understand and deepen the method as well as putting it into action.
Our team
Eszter Harsányi
CEO and founder
Eszter started out as an educational sociologist, diving into how minorities, especially Roma communities, navigate their way into the labor market through education. After that, she spent seven years working in the international corporate world. But when her second child, Áron, was born, everything changed. That’s when she decided to start her own social enterprise, NestingPlay, which she’s been passionately growing for over a decade.
Áron, who often struggles to find his place in different communities, inspired her to develop solutions that can offer real help to children facing similar challenges. Eszter’s dream is to take the obstacles of today in children’s lives and turn them into the opportunities of tomorrow.
Csenge Beleznai
Play-based learning expert
Csenge graduated as a kindergarten teacher from ELTE in 2017, and in 2020, she earned a Master’s degree in Education, majoring in Institutional Development. During her studies, she gained experience in developing educational material and organizing parent forums as well. She’s been working with children since high school — sometimes directly, sometimes behind the scenes — and has been part of the NestingPlay team since 2020.
Currently, she is developing educational materials, running training sessions, and teaching, aiming to give children who find it harder to engage a real chance to connect and grow.
Csenge herself is a person with sensory issues — she’s almost always fidgeting with something — which probably explains her passion for helping children like herself understand the world and be involved in their communities. Besides inclusivity, supporting teachers is also a priority for her.
Attila Dobák
Communication and project manager
Attila started out in the communications world, working for both national and international agencies over the years, mainly focusing on strategy and project management. Then he made a sharp turn and ended up in the civil sector, taking on the role of project manager at an NGO dedicated to environmental protection and biodiversity.
He's been involved with NestingPlay for quite a while now, helping out as a volunteer and external consultant. In 2025, he came on board full-time and has been supporting the organization with strategic planning, projekt management, and handling communications ever since.
Vera Szabó
Special education teacher and speech therapyst
Vera has been part of our team for many years now. She’s a special needs teacher and speech therapist, mainly working with children who have attention issues or sensory sensitivities, both one-on-one and in group settings.
Her experience isn’t just limited to working directly with the children; she’s also great at supporting the adults around them. She currently creates professional materials and training courses, mainly for coaches and parents.
She is passionate about making sure all children get the attention and support they need to thrive.
Rita Szőke
Special education teacher and expert in early childhood development
Rita primarily focuses on the psychomotor development of infants and young children, with special attention to communication and language development. Her experience in early intervention and deep dedication enable her to identify areas that require support in a timely manner – and to apply targeted therapeutic solutions that can bring about real change.
She believes – and her professional experience supports this – that with the right kind of support, children can make significant progress by school age and successfully integrate into communities.
Rita has also played an active role in the development of the NestingPlay method, where she incorporated both her special education perspective and hands-on experience. Since then, she has continued to play a key role in the creation and development of our professional materials.
András Harsányi
Financial manager
András has been a key supporter of NestingPlay's finances for quite a while. He’s not just about the numbers; he’s helped a lot of social enterprises grow their businesses without losing sight of their core values. At NestingPlay, he makes sure our finances are clear, reliable, and sustainable. We can always count on him to make strategic decisions.
Advisory board
Gábor Lévai
CEO and founder - Scale Impact Nonprofit Ltd
Cleophas Wanyonyi Chesolie
Community developer and founder - Core Health and Wealth International
Donát Magyari
Strategic business development
Our partners
