Stories

Rising Up: Empowering Displaced Children in Thailand to Cope With Crisis

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• 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.

• When Right To Play's Play Ambassador Akwasi Frimpong Dared to Dream Big Things Happened

  “Anything is possible as long as you believe in yourself," says Akwasi Frimpong. And he should know. As Ghana’s first and only Skeleton Olympian, Akwasi is inspiring children around the world to chase their dreams.

• 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.

• 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.