Our 2024 Annual Report
Protect. Educate. Empower.
Around the world, children full of potential are growing up in extremely challenging conditions, and without the support and opportunities they need to learn, develop, and thrive.
Our 2024 Annual Report shows how support from you, our donors, made a significant difference in the lives of millions of children in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Indigenous communities in Canada last year, helping children to to stay in school and learn, overcome prejudice, heal from trauma, and develop the skills they need to thrive.
2024 Impact and Reach
Thanks to your support, more than 4.7 million children and 86,000 young people learned in classrooms that are inclusive, playful, and engaging, received support to cope with trauma, and learned how to claim their rights and lead. More than 104,000 teachers were trained on how to improve students’ literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills. Close to 550,000 parents and caregivers learned new skills to better support children’s learning and development through play. And more than 60,000 refugee and internally displaced youth in 86 communities received support to cope with trauma and return to learning.
With our civil society, funding, academic, and government partners, we contributed to a growing body of knowledge about how play supports children’s learning and well-being, and we explored ways to scale what works to protect, educate, and empower more children around the world.
Our Impact
Our work is rooted in a core belief that every child has the right to a safe and joyful childhood and the chance to learn and develop through play.
We work in four core programs areas: early childhood education, primary education, girls’ equality and well-being, and emotional well-being and crisis response. Focusing our programming on these key areas ensures children develop the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to thrive, even in the world’s most challenging contexts.
Our work in early childhood care and education gave young children an opportunity to benefit from high-quality, playful early learning and care that supports their education and development. In Uganda’s refugee settlements, more than 1,600 parents were trained in playful parenting and trauma-informed care, leading to a threefold increase in positive parent-child relationships.
Our work in primary education guaranteed that more primary school–aged children had an enriched learning experience and improved literacy and socio-emotional learning skills. In Tanzania, 97% of students correctly answered comprehension questions, and children in our partner schools there were 2.5 times more likely to be proficient readers than their peers.
Last year, our teams supported girls and young women to build confidence and address harmful social norms through programs that advance leadership and gender equality. In Senegal, 69% of participants in our sports program reported reductions in gender-based violence.
We also provided children, including marginalized, refugee, and displaced children, with play-based psychosocial support that improved their emotional well-being and helped them keep learning. In Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories, more than 12,000 children and families received psychosocial support in safe spaces. In Lebanon, 95% of children reported they were better able to express their emotions after participating.
MEET OUR UPRISERS
As a child, Anita never had the chance to play or go to school. Through the Play To Grow program, she learned playful parenting techniques that helped her create joyful, supportive learning experiences for her own children. Now, she’s breaking cycles of adversity and helping her children thrive through the power of play.
Responding to Crisis
When an emergency strikes, children are the first and the most affected; often losing not only their homes, but their access to school, safety, and stability. Through our Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises strategy, we help children continue learning even in the most fragile contexts, using play-based learning to strengthen resilience, emotional well-being, and healing. In Mali, Lebanon, Pakistan, Burundi, Tanzania, and the Palestinian Territories, children found safe, inclusive spaces to continue their education despite conflict and displacement.
In 2024, we also responded in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories through the Children’s Emergency Fund. Donations to the Fund support children and families with the supplies, spaces, and support they need to cope with trauma and return to learning.
Thank you to our supporters
We are deeply thankful for the individuals, governments, foundations, agencies, and businesses whose support protects, educates, and empowers millions of children each year to rise above adversity through the power of play.
Thank you for working towards a future where children are free from abuse, heard, respected, and empowered.