A FORMER REFUGEE INSPIRES YOUNG STUDENTS: HARRIET’S STORY

Harriet and her family fled from the terrors spread by the guerillas of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Now, back to her home country, Uganda, Harriet is committed to teaching, and to supporting refugee students to heal from the traumas they’ve experienced and dream bigger than just surviving another day.

FINDING HEALING THROUGH MUSIC: ALAIN’S STORY

Refugee children in Lebanon like Alain often struggle to process the traumatic experiences they've gone through. A program called "Music for Social Change" in Beirut helped Alain learn how to express himself, cope with negative emotions, and connect with others through music and arts.

HOW ELOISA IS CLOSING THE LEARNING GAP

Eloisa is just ten years old, but she’s a leader in her school’s reading club, helping her fellow students to strengthen their academic skills as they go back to school after long closures created by COVID-19.

FREE TO BE HIMSELF: TAHA’S STORY

Taha is a Palestinian refugee who grew up with a mobility impairment. He felt helpless and struggled to leave his home in Gaza, but thanks to a psychosocial support program for children with disabilities, he developed the confidence and independence to face the world.

HOW ANITHA WENT BACK TO SCHOOL

Anitha had to drop out of school due to poverty. She worked hauling water and selling sugar cane, dangerous work for children. Members of a Right To Play-supported child rights club in her former school reached out and helped her leave child labour and return to her education. With their help, she is able to make money safely to afford school supplies. Anitha is now a star pupil in her class, and she's glad to be back.

Going back to school: Bismah's story

Bismah wants to be a doctor so she can help others. But her mother can’t afford the fees for school. Thanks to help from Right To Play, Bismah is going back to school, where she can keep on chasing her dream. Watch Bismah's story.

Standing up for herself: Raheela’s story

When Raheela moved to a new school, she felt isolated and was bullied by the other girls. It got so bad that she nearly dropped out. But a teacher noticed what was going on and helped her to form connections with her peers that stopped the bullying. Watch Raheela's story.

A DREAM OF FLYING: SADIA’S STORY

Sadia wants to be a pilot someday, but her parents can't afford to send her to school. She's refusing to give up on her dreams, and is studying with a Right To Play-trained tutor to keep learning until she can get into school. Watch Sadia's story.

HOLDING ON TO HOPE: KHADER’S STORY

In Beit Hanoun, on the northeastern border of the Gaza Strip, violance has been common, there is a large population of refugees, and poverty is rampant. Children rely on coaches like Khader to bring much-needed recreational and extracurricular activities that help them hold onto hope.

STANDING STRONG: CLAIRE’S STORY

Claire was sexually assaulted, became pregnant, and out of fear of teachers and classmates, dropped out of school. Over time, she was able to reclaim her agency, return to school and wants to become a teacher.

HOLDING ON TO HER FUTURE: LEILA’S STORY

When Leila got pregnant in Mozambique at 16, she thought it was the end of her school career. But with the help of Right To Play, she made it back to school. Read more about her story here.

STANDING UP FOR HER RIGHTS: ANGELINA’S STORY

This is the story of how one young mother in Mozambique refused to give up on her right to an education.

BRIGHTER THAN GOLD: BALLA’S STORY

Balla, 12, worked in Mali's most dangerous gold mines. Today, she is back in school, excelling in mathematics and French, and wants to go to medical school. This is her journey.

A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN: DANIELLE’S STORY

Danielle was just eight when the Burundi Civil War broke out in 1993. By 15, she had lost her family and was a refugee. Right To Play was present in her camp, and she became involved in 2002. She quickly became a young leader. This is her story.

FINDING THE STRENGTH TO HELP OTHERS: AYA’S STORY

Before Right To Play became a part of her life, Aya was shy and nervous in group settings. Now, she fearlessly speaks to groups of girls and leads them through confidence-building activities.

BIG GOALS: TAUSEEF’S STORY

STANDING STRONG: KYAW’S STORY

Clenching his fists in anger is no longer a solution for Kyaw. In Mae La in Thailand, where a generation of Karen refugees is growing up under the most difficult conditions, he supports children and youth as a coach to help them express their feelings and rise.

SHARING A LEGACY OF LEARNING – KARIN HOWELL'S STORY

As a teacher in Switzerland, Karin Howell quickly discovered the power play has on children's ability to learn. That is what brought her to Right To Play. For 16 years she has been sharing her knowledge about learning through play and inspiring people to support and invest in children's quality education.

Coping with trauma through new hope: Daniyal’s Story

Daniyal's family survived the devastating explosion in Beirut, but the traumatic memories linger. His participation in play-based activities provides him with psychosocial support, making Daniyal laugh again.

How Judith Stood Up Against Female Genital Mutilation

17 year-old Judith lives with her family in the rural Serengeti district of Tanzania. When her school closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she had to face her worst fears: Her parents decided that it was time for her to undergo “cutting” – female genital mutilation (FGM). Read her story and learn about her brave decision to stop her parents.

LERNEN TROTZ GESCHLOSSENER SCHULEN - MATEUS' Geschichte

For Mateus, the lockdown in Mozambique meant that his final exams, which will determine his further educational path, were postponed. But Mateus keeps going: Instead of being prepared for the exams in the classroom, he now turns on the TELESCOLA program on television to study.

“Anyone Could Be Next” – Irene’s Story

In rural northern Ghana, 12-year-old Irene braves a deadly epidemic. She goes door-to-door showing her neighbours how avoiding close contact, proper handwashing, and a few other simple measures can slow the rate of infection. After her lessons about the coronavirus are complete, Irene spends time reading stories with other children at a safe distance..

Farzanas Weg in die Unabhängigkeit

ÇIYA STANDS UP AGAINST DISCRIMINATION THROUGH MUSIC

A DESPERATE DECISION: ANTONIA AND SARAH’S STORY

Antonia and Sarah were nearly forced into marriage at just 12 and 10 years old, but the sisters are back with their families and re-enrolled in school. This is their story.

Alumni: Gilbert's Story and his dream

Gilbert has big plans: he wants to be a civil engineer designing affordable and accessible housing for people with disabilities, people whose lives have been shaped by the legacy of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, just as his own family's lives have been.

OUT OF THE HORRORS OF WAR: HOPE

Qasida has lost her father during the Syrian Civil War. Here's how she found hope again.

Rising: Aissa's Story

Mali is one of the toughest places on earth to be a girl. But a new generation of young women in Mali is refusing to accept limits. Aissa, a 26 year-old woman is one of these leaders. Read more about her story.

New Generation, New Hope

Obaansi is just 18 years old, and she is not only the first member of her family to go to high school, but also already changing the lives of children in her hometown.

Telling stories, changing lives

These young people are using the power of storytelling to help eliminate child marriage and early pregnancy from their hometown.

Hearing Hands

Ife is an advocate for the inclusion of deaf people in Ethiopian society. Rather than accepting the limitations others would place on deaf children and children with disabilities, she is advocating for a more inclusive world, one in which every child has the power to rise.

A GIRL WITH A VOICE IS A STRONG GIRL

In Elu Eteya, Ethiopia, Liya desperately wanted to stay in school. She needed support and she found it in this group.

How a child of war became a warrior for peace

As a former Right To Play participant, Malual has become a beacon for hope.

To protect others, Rhobi used something even more powerful than tradition: her voice

Rhobi uses her own painful experiences on the theater stage to warn children, parents and members of her community of the dangers of female genital mutilation.

Opening the eyes of parents, to open doors to education

Julienne is already a community legend at 12 years old. She believes that all children, especially girls, deserve to go to school and she is spreading her message to change the lives of her peers.

Moving together to move mountains

A band of bold Malian youth are speaking up for children’s rights and protection, spreading their message on different platforms, including live theatrical performances.

Gulmeena: girl champion and champion of girls

In Peshewar, Pakistan, where deep-rooted traditions often obstruct girls' access to education, Gulmeena creates new opportunities and inspires hundreds of young girls from her region with her story.