Right To Play

Right To Play empowers children to rise above these challenges and find their way back to hope. Children are amongst the most vulnerable people in the world. For many, their futures are limited by violence, child labor, early marriage, illiteracy and inequality. They fight to attend and stay in school, to be treated with dignity and respect and to be safe.

PLAY SAVES LIVES
It keeps children in school and out of work. It teaches them how to prevent life-threatening diseases like HIV and malaria and keep them safe from exploitation and abuse. It gives girls the power to say no to unwanted sex, and make healthy decisions about their bodies and their futures.

PROTECT. EDUCATE. EMPOWER.
It’s what we do for millions of children each year.

OUR STORY
For more than 20 years, Right To Play has worked in some of the most difficult and dangerous places on earth to help children to stay in school and graduate, resist exploitation and overcome prejudice, keep themselves safe from disease, and heal from the harsh realities of war and abuse.

It all began with a boy in a long sleeve t-shirt…

In 1994, Norwegian speed skater Johann Olav Koss led a humanitarian trip to Eritrea. There, he came face-to-face with the realities of life in a country emerging from decades of war – and with the power of play. Amid burned-out tanks, children played together, kicking a shirtball back and forth. The children’s incredible resilience in the face of hopelessness inspired Koss to found Right To Play.

Twenty years on, Right To Play has grown to reach millions of children in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada. We create positive and safe environments where children can learn and succeed, and use play in all its forms to provide rich and engaged learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

Our vision is to empower 100 million children by 2030 with the education, skills, and opportunities they need to rise above adversity and create a more peaceful and equitable world.

Right To Play is harnessing one of the most powerful and fundamental forces in every child’s life, the power of play. Our programs protect, educate, and empower children to heal from the harsh realities of war and abuse, to change their behavior and protect themselves from disease, to go to school, graduate and create a better future.

HOW WE PLAY
Different types of play give children the opportunity to learn different things. Inside the classroom, games help children to actively engage in their lessons, enhancing their learning. Outside of the classroom, they play through performance, music or dance to gain critical life skills.

QUALITY EDUCATION
We use play to ignite a life-long love of learning in every child, making it fun, active and engaging.

GENDER EQUALITY
We play to give girls a voice, to claim their rights to equality, education, dignity and safety.

HEALTH & WELL-BEING
We use play to teach important health lessons, helping children learn the facts that can save their lives.

CHILD PROTECTION
Through play, children learn how to avoid violence, discrimination and exploitation.

A WORLD OF UPRISERS
We bring the power of play to 15 countries, each with their own set of challenges for children.

In these countries, we empower girls to resist early marriage and to continue their education. We teach children how to protect themselves from diseases like HIV and malaria. We help child laborers return to school. And we inspire refugee youth living in dire camp conditions to heal and succeed.

CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY FUND

KEEPING CHILDREN LEARNING AND MENTALLY STRONG
When an emergency hits, schools are often the first places affected. Donations to the Children’s Emergency Fund allow us to quickly respond to emergencies in the 15 program countries where we work by providing the supplies, spaces, and support children need to keep learning. Using the freeing power of play, we help children cope with fear and anxiety, and ensure that young people who experience marginalization are included in recovery efforts. When the emergency subsides, we help children go back to school safely and resume their studies.

Your donation to the Children’s Emergency Fund gives children living through emergencies the support and spaces they need to cope, recover, and get back to learning.

BECOME A PARTNER IN PLAY AND MAKE YOUR GIFT SUSTAINABLE!
Monthly giving isn’t just a contribution; it’s a commitment to creating sustainable solutions for children in the communities we proudly serve. As a Partner in Play, you’ll be at the heart of our mission, enabling us to empower children, particularly girls, through the transformative power of quality, play-based education.

LEARN MORE: https://righttoplayusa.org/en/national-offices/national-office-usa/get-involved/ways-to-give/

CONTACT RIGHT TO PLAY:

ADDRESS:
26 BROADWAY, 3RD FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10004

PHONE: +1 (646) 649-8280
EMAIL: INFO_USA@RIGHTTOPLAY.COM