A five-year partnership between The Lego Foundation and The International Rescue Committee will support early learning in conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East
The Lego Group’s charity arm has committed $97 million to expand early learning support for children in war torn regions across East Africa and the Middle East.
The Lego Foundation has announced a five-year partnership with The International Rescue Committee to support play-based learning into national education, health, and early childhood services in conflict zones throughout the regions.
Sidsel Marie Kristensen, CEO at the LEGO Foundation, said: “Through our long-standing partnership with IRC, we are supporting children affected by conflict and crisis with learning and play experiences they need to build resilience and continue to grow. Together, we are building on years of collaboration to reach millions of children with approaches that deliver meaningful impact at scale.”
The partnership will support children from before they are born through early school years, helping ensure they receive consistent care and learning opportunities. Drawing on proven models such as PlayMatters, Ahlan Simsim, and Play to Learn, the IRC and the LEGO Foundation will strengthen national systems, integrating playful learning into education, building the capacity of teachers, education administrators and caregivers, and strengthening the provision of early childhood development.
The countries considered for implementation include Ethiopia, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Uganda.
“This is a landmark commitment by the LEGO Foundation, which provides hope to millions of children, and I hope will inspire philanthropists to think big and follow the evidence,” added David Miliband, President and CEO at the IRC. “Through this partnership, the IRC and the LEGO Foundation are embedding proven, playful learning into national systems, moving from helping children cope with crisis to giving them a real chance to thrive—at scale and over time.”
To date, through eight projects, the IRC and the LEGO Foundation have reached more than seven million children across 12 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
