Stories

Never Give Up: Chala’s Story

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• 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.

• Believing In Themselves: Bertha and Bilkis’ Stories

  How two young women in Ghana overcame gender stereotypes and stigma to become outspoken leaders for girls in their community.

• Tala Takes a Stand Against Gender Inequality

  It remains far too common for girls to not be given the same opportunities as boys growing up. Tala was expected to stay at home to do housework while the boys played. She challenged that idea.

• Soaring high in the air: Fatima’s story

  Fatima's is the story of a bold young woman who refused to let others limit her dreams.

• Çiya stands up against discrimination through music

  For children like Çiya, the struggle to rise above adversity and find a way back to hope is a long, uphill battle.

• Rising Up: Empowering Displaced Children in Thailand to Cope With Crisis

  We have empowered more than 120,000 displaced and refugee children in Thailand to develop confidence in their future.Here's how we're adapting that work amid COVID-19.

• A Mother’s Courage ⁠— Fatena’s Story

  Fatena, one of our 20th anniversary alumni, protects her family from the psychological strain of life as refugees using skills she learned from Right To Play.

• "I Have a Big Vision": Gilbert's Story

  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.

• Rising: Aissa’s Story

  Aissa joined a Right To Play program in Mali 12 years ago. Now she's a leader, empowering girls through the non-profit organization she founded.

• 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.

• Out of the Horrors of War, Hope

  Qasida's father was killed during the Syrian Civil War. Here's how she found hope.

• Aurora speaks truth to power

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

• New Generation, New Hope

  Obaansi is just 18 years old, and the first member of her family to go to high school, but she’s already changing the lives of children in her hometown.

• Life played out on the pitch

  Said is transforming and uniting his community from a dusty football pitch in Lebanon.

• Saying "NO" to Child Marriage

  With some help from Right To Play, Zaida was able to resist child marriage and continue her studies.

• Htoo Htoo participates in a Play Day

  Htoo Htoo, a 12-year-old Karen refugee from Myanmar who was born in Thailand's Umpiem Refugee Camp. Watch him experience his first Play Day.

• Hearing Hands

  Ife is an advocate for the inclusion of deaf people in Ethiopian society.

• 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.

• By finding her power on the field, Khansa found the power to say no to child marriage

  Khansa dared to do the impossible: stand up to child marriage. This shy, brilliant high-schooler found the power to challenge a deep-seated tradition and have her voice heard.

• The Incredible Strength of a Girl

  She's resilient. She's brave. She's a role model to her peers. Her passion for education has driven her to achieve the second-highest grades in her class...

• When Akwasi Frimpong Dared to Dream, Big Things Happened

  Growing up poor in a one-room home in Kumasi, Ghana, Akwasi Frimpong always dared to dream. At the age of eight he immigrated to the Netherlands. He had never left his hometown or seen white people before. He didn’t speak the language and he struggled to make friends at school. But Akwasi was determined to find his place in his new home.

• 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.

• Play Ambassador Zahra Mahmoodi Rose Above Barriers To Realize Her Dreams

  Play Ambassador Zahra Mahmoodi tells us how she rose above barriers to realize her dreams and how she breaks and remakes the rules, both on and off the football pitch.

• How a child of war became a warrior for peace

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

• 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.