Stories

• 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.

• Finding Hope for the Future: Martha's Story

  When schools were closed due to COVID-19, Martha's family couldn't afford at-home tutors, and she was under pressure to end her education and find work in Accra. That's when Alhassan intervened.

• Connecting with Culture Builds Confidence: Samantha's Story

  Eleven-year-old Samantha expresses deep pride in practicing her Ojibway way of life, which she has had the opportunity to learn more about at the PLAY program.

• Youth builds the strength & voice to lead: Hunter's Story

  Hunter is an 18-year-old youth who first joined his community’s PLAY program in northern Alberta. When Hunter first started, he was very shy and quiet. Through the skill-building activities facilitated by his Community Mentor, he has grown by leaps and bounds.

• Holding on to Hope: Khader’s Story

  In Beit Hanoun, on the northeastern border of the Gaza Strip, violence 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.

• Building a Community: Than’s Story

  Than is one of hundreds of thousands of Karen people who fled from government violence in Myanmar as a child. He has worked with Right To Play for many years, supporting children and families like his, separated or displaced, to discover the power within themselves to rise above difficult circumstances.

• Finding His Passion: Jayden’s Story

  Jayden lives in a remote Indigenous community in British Columbia, and was feeling isolated. Our PLAY (Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth) program helped him connect with others and discover a new passion along the way.

• Resilience: Daniyal’s Story

  The story of how one boy is coping with the trauma of the Beirut explosion.

• How Judith Stood Up to Female Genital Mutilation

  When schools closed due to COVID-19, Judith faced her worst fear. But she resisted the pressure of female genital mutilation.

• I Want to Learn: Mateus’s Story

  The story of how one boy refused to let COVID-19 stop him from learning.

• “Anyone Could Be Next”: Irene’s Story

  The story of how one girl in rural Ghana is defending her community from COVID-19.

• 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.

• Big Goals: Tauseef’s Story

  Tauseef is from the well-known football hub of Lyari, Pakistan. But the town is also plagued with poverty, violence and drugs. Tauseef and Right To Play are working with the boys and girls of Lyari to build confidence, communication, and leadership skills.

• 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.

• Helping Young Refugees Prevent HIV: Robert’s Story

  Robert was skeptical of the power of play at first. But he quickly discovered that play-based learning and sport for development could change the lives of young refugees and children living in poverty in Uganda.

• Witnessing the power of hope in action: Karen Conway's story

  For over a decade, Karen Conway has been inspired by the children in Right To Play programs, and has been working to expand our impact around the globe. This is her story.

• Dreaming Big: Eh Myo Oo’s Story

  Eh Myo Oo is a Takraw star in New Zealand. Just a few years ago, he was in a refugee camp in Thailand, struggling to access the outside world. This is his story.

• 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.

• Witnessing Transformation, Advocating for Education: Allyson Felix’s Story

  Education has always been an important part of Allyson Felix’s life. Providing education opportunities for others is why the legendary Olympian joined the Right To Play team.

• 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.

• Never Give Up: Chala’s Story

  “Right To Play has played a decisive role in my academic achievement” – Chala, Right To Play alumnus

• 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.