2020 was a year of great challenges for the children we work with. The pandemic closed their schools, kept them from their friends and mentors, and put them at increased risk of child labour, gender-based violence, early marriage, and pregnancy. In our 2020 Annual Report, you’ll read how our supporters and staff worked tirelessly to keep children healthy, safe, learning, and mentally strong through lockdowns, and you’ll meet some of the uprisers who inspired us this year.

2020 also marked an important milestone for Right To Play: 20 years of protecting, educating, and empowering children to rise above adversity through the power of play. in the report, we celebrate the many children, teachers, and coaches who have inspired us with their incredible passion, strength, and tenacity in the face of adversity.

We hope you enjoy reading about what your support has made possible. Thank you for empowering children to rise.

2020 at a Glance

Reach and Impact

Thanks to your support, we were able to reach more than 2.3 million children through safe in-person and remote activities like videos, at home tutoring support, and digital sessions. We engaged 2.5 million teachers, coaches, parents, and caregivers to support children's development. And we reached 11.2 million children through playful, interactive radio and television programming.

COVID-19 Response

The pandemic and resulting lockdowns were hard on the children we work with. Your support made it possible for children in Uganda to learn how to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19 through WASH clubs and radio dramas, for children in Jordan to stay active and healthy while out of school, and for children in Mozambique to keep learning at home through playful and engaging televised school lessons.

Celebrating 20 years of Impact

Gilbert is an incredible young man who found the confidence to pursue his dreams of becoming an architect. Fatima fought against gender inequality, became a Right To Play coach, and used the play to empower other young women. Than is using what he learned as a Right To Play coach to help other displaced people cope. These are just a few of the incredible young people we've had the privilege of getting to know over 20 years. Learn more about them and other alumni who are helping to change their communities for the better.

Meet the Uprisers

Jayden spends at least an hour every day taking photographs, but just a few years ago, he never would have thought about it as an option. Right To Play partnered with Jayden’s community, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band in British Columbia, to provide community-led, culturally relevant play-based programs. Although apprehensive at first, Jayden signed up for a photography session and found his passion. Now, Jayden is contributing to photography exhibitions and has been hired to take professional photographs by his band. As his skill and passion for photography has grown, so has his confidence and his openness to further new experiences.

Thank you to our Supporters

We are deeply grateful to the generous individuals, foundations, government, agencies, and businesses whose partnership makes our work possible. The continued support of our donors allows us to run play-based programs for quality education, gender equality, child protection, health and well-being, and peaceful communities.

Thank you for partnering with us to empower the next generation of children to rise. Thank you for working towards a future where children are free from abuse and exploitation, heard and respected, resilient and filled with hope.