The power of play and transformative interventions in emergencies

Recognising the importance of ensuring children's holistic development, even during disasters and humanitarian crises, the 'Play to Learn' consortium—comprising Sesame Workshop, BRAC, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and New York University (NYU)—has implemented the project over the past six years.

This initiative focuses on fostering Early Childhood Development (ECD) among Rohingya children forcibly displaced from Myanmar to Cox's Bazar.

The model, designed for Rohingya children aged 0 to 5 years, engages the community and has been implemented in the camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, where half of the population consists of children and women. It is tailored to reflect the culture, language, and customs of the Rohingya community, emphasising that children affected by violence can overcome trauma through play-based learning.

As part of this effort, the 'Play to Learn' consortium hosted a learning-sharing session titled "Play with a Purpose: Insights and Impacts from the Play to Learn Partnership" on Thursday, 16 January, at BRAC Centre, Dhaka. A 'Play to Learn' Resource Hub and Marketplace display was also organised during the event.

The Lego Foundation funds the 'Play to Learn' project, which promotes children's physical and cognitive development through different ECD initiatives led by the consortium partners.

Md graced the session. Kamrul Hasan, ndc, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), as the Chief Guest, and Md. Anowar Hossain, Acting Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau, as the Special Guest. Dr Muhammad Musa, Senior Advisor at BRAC Institute of Educational Development (BIED), delivered the welcome address and moderated the session.

Md Kamrul Hasan, ndc, emphasised the risks of cultural genocide and commended the programme for incorporating rich cultural history into the play labs to address the mental health challenges faced by Rohingya children.

Md Anowar Hossain highlighted the challenges of development in humanitarian contexts, thanking the consortium partners for their study and programme implementation. He noted that the research findings would benefit humanitarian crises globally, not just in Bangladesh.

Lesley Bourns, Senior Vice President of International Social Impact at Sesame Workshop, observed that engaging children requires repeating core concepts in fresh ways to sustain interest. She described the programme's child-centric models and adaptability as a movement for change rather than just another project.Dr Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Professor of the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University, underscored the role of educational media in nurturing emotional development among displaced and conflict-affected children. He also stressed the importance of father engagement in reducing violence against children and fostering meaningful interactions with young children.

Hasina Rahman, Country Director at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), noted that even small investments had delivered impactful messaging that influenced meaningful behavioural shifts. She credited locally led and connected approaches as key to the programme's success.

Dr Erum Mariam, Executive Director of BRAC Institute of Educational Development (BIED), explained how children were central to co-designing the programme, sharing stories and cultural practices. She highlighted that play has emerged as a tool for learning and healing, a hallmark innovation of this initiative.

Dr Akramul Islam, Senior Director of BRAC's Health and Humanitarian Crisis Management programmes, reflected on the challenging yet rewarding journey of engaging families enriched by the support of consortium partners and the Government of Bangladesh (GoB).

KAM Morshed, Senior Director of BRAC's Advocacy for Social Change, Partnership Strengthening Unit, Social Innovation Lab, Technology and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, concluded the session by emphasising the transformative role of play in addressing mental health challenges during humanitarian crises. He praised the programme's innovative and scalable solutions, which were made possible through strong partnerships.

Over the past six years, nearly 800,000 Rohingya children, parents, and caregivers have directly benefited from the 'Play to Learn' project. Research findings reveal that 70% of participating children achieved overall development milestones, while 91% demonstrated significant mental development. Furthermore, 96 per cent of parents and caregivers reported becoming more attentive and caring towards their children.

Participants shared insights and evidence from Humanitarian Play Lab (HPL) programmes in Cox's Bazar and the Middle East, illustrating how these interventions effectively address children's well-being and educational needs in crisis settings. Speakers underscored the critical role of play in promoting resilience and learning among children while recognising the consortium's leadership in ECD advocacy and programming.

Participants praised the consortium's efforts to advance ECD in challenging environments and expressed their commitment to integrating play-based solutions in their respective fields. The 'Play to Learn' consortium reaffirmed its dedication to fostering resilience and healing among displaced populations, advocating for ECD as a cornerstone of humanitarian response strategies.