Stories

• How William Helped His Friends Stay Safe and Learn

  Schools in Ghana have been improving their safety with regular handwashing, masking, and other measures, but teachers and officials are facing the challenge of informing parents about all the changes made to protect students. William felt empowered to inform his friends’ parents due to the confidence and support he’d developed in Right To Play programs at his school.

• How Ruth Helps Her Peers Return to School

  Since COVID-19 first struck Rwanda, schools have been closed for a total of 41 weeks of instruction. But when schools reopened, many children didn’t return. Ruth was one of them. Her journey back to school began when she and her mother were visited at home by members of her school’s local Junior Leader club.

• How Ella and Joyce are Advocating for their Right to Education

  Ella, 15, was out of school for more than two years before a back-to-school campaign, aimed at improving access to quality education for primary school-aged children, especially girls, helped her return. Listen to Ella describe her experience.

• How Fatima Kept Her Refugee Family Strong

  Fatima’s family is one of the millions that have been profoundly affected by the Syrian Civil War. For the past seven years, she has been the primary caregiver for her two granddaughters. But Fatima was worried that the girls were becoming more distant, especially after lockdowns began.

• ADVOCATING FOR EQUALITY: EMELYNE’S STORY

  Emelyne was struggling in school, falling behind, and having difficulty affording supplies. Her father encouraged her to drop out. Now Emelyne is not only succeeding in the classroom, but she’s also using her voice to advocate for equality in her community.

• How Eloisa Is Closing the Learning Gap

  Eloisa is just ten years old, but she’s a leader in her school’s reading club, helping her fellow students to strengthen their academic skills as they go back to school after long closures created by COVID-19.

• A Bigger Lesson Than Winning: Haitham’s Story

  Haitham is a coach in the Palestinian Territories teaching children lessons that go far beyond the pitch, such as respect for others, team spirit, and the dedication it takes to find the best in themselves.

• Finding healing through music: Alain’s story

  Refugee children in Lebanon like Alain often struggle to process the traumatic experiences they've gone through. A program in Beirut helped Alain learn how to express himself, cope with negative emotions, and connect with others through music and arts.

• How Anitha Went Back to School

  Anitha had to drop out of school due to poverty. She worked hauling water and selling sugar cane, dangerous work for children. Members of a Right To Play-supported child rights club in her former school reached out and helped her leave child labour and return to her education. With their help, she is able to make money safely to afford school supplies. Anitha is now a star pupil in her class, and she's glad to be back.

• Finding Her Voice Through Art: Nour’s Story

  Nour is a refugee living in Lebanon who suffered the trauma of the Syrian Civil War and turned inward. But she found a way to express herself through music and art, and is now inspiring others to do the same.

• Connecting Health and Education: Esperance's Story

  The My Education, My Future program is providing opportunities for girls in Tanzania and Burundi to learn about sexual health, and help keep young refugees like Esperance in school.

• Empowered to Learn: Laila’s Story

  The prevailing view in Laila's village in Pakistan is that educating girls is a waste of time, so she didn't go to school. But Right To Play helped her learn how to read, and now she is sharing that gift with others.

• Standing Up for What She Believes In: Adele’s Story

  Life is hard for girls in rural northern Tanzania. Many girls are forced to undergo female genital mutilation and marry young. Adele enrolled in a Right To Play child rights club at her school and uses the knowledge and confidence she gained there to help girls resist the dangerous practices.

• STANDING UP FOR HERSELF: RAHEELA’S STORY

  When Raheela moved to a new school, she felt isolated and was bullied by the other girls. It got so bad that she nearly dropped out. But a teacher noticed what was going on and helped her to form connections with her peers that stopped the bullying. Watch Raheela's story.

• GOING BACK TO SCHOOL: BISMAH’S STORY

  Bismah wants to be a doctor so she can help others. But her mother can’t afford the fees for school. Thanks to help from Right To Play, Bismah is going back to school, where she can keep on chasing her dream. Watch Bismah's story.

• A DREAM OF FLYING: SADIA’S STORY

  Sadia wants to be a pilot someday, but her parents can’t afford to send her to school. She’s refusing to give up on her dreams, and is studying with a Right To Play-trained tutor to keep learning until she can get into school. Watch Sadia's story.

• GIVING BACK: KAINAT’S STORY

  After Kainat’s father passed away, she struggled to finish her university courses. Right To Play helped her become a coach, find the confidence in herself, and complete her studies. She passes those lessons on to other girls in her community, leading them through games and activities that unlock their belief in themselves. Watch Kainat's story.

• Standing Strong: Claire’s Story

  Claire was sexually assaulted, became pregnant, and out of fear of teachers and classmates, dropped out of school. Over time, she was able to reclaim her agency, return to school and wants to become a teacher.

• Holding on to Her Future: Leila’s Story

  When she became pregnant, Leila thought it was the end of her education. More than half of girls in Mozambique do not finish primary school, and the most common reason they drop out is pregnancy. This is the story of how she returned to school.

• WORKING TOGETHER: SARATA’S STORY

  55% of school-age children in Mali are involved in some form of work. Sarata was one of them, working in the mines after the death of her father pushed her family into poverty. Now she is back in school and wants to become a doctor.

• Free to Be Himself: Taha’s Story

  Taha is a Palestinian refugee who grew up with a mobility impairment. He felt helpless and struggled to leave his home in Gaza, but thanks to a psychosocial support program for children with disabilities, he developed the confidence and independence to face the world.

• Finding Hope for the Future: Martha's Story

  When schools were closed due to COVID-19, Martha's family couldn't afford at-home tutors, and she was under pressure to end her education and find work in Accra. That's when Alhassan intervened.

• Overcoming displacement and claiming her right to education: Zainab’s story

  Since 2015, more than 400,000 refugees have fled civil unrest in Burundi for camps in Tanzania. 17-year-old Zainab joined the Gender Equality Club in her camp, part of an initiative by the “My Education, My Future” program.

• Brighter than Gold: Balla’s Story

  Balla, 12, worked in Mali's most dangerous gold mines. Today, she is back in class, excelling in mathematics and French, and wants to go to medical school. This is her journey.

• Standing Strong: Kyaw’s Story

  In the Mae La camp for displaced people in Thailand, there is a lack of trust in the police. In a place where alcohol abuse, domestic violence and crime are common, that makes community mediators crucial for resolving conflict. This is the story of how Kyaw turned his life around and became a valuable community leader.

• Holding on to Hope: Khader’s Story

  In Beit Hanoun, on the northeastern border of the Gaza Strip, violence has been common, there is a large population of refugees, and poverty is rampant. Children rely on coaches like Khader to bring much-needed recreational and extracurricular activities that help them hold onto hope.

• Building a Community: Than’s Story

  Than is one of hundreds of thousands of Karen people who fled from government violence in Myanmar as a child. He has worked with Right To Play for many years, supporting children and families like his, separated or displaced, to discover the power within themselves to rise above difficult circumstances.

• Finding His Passion: Jayden’s Story

  Jayden lives in a remote Indigenous community in British Columbia, and was feeling isolated. Our PLAY (Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth) program helped him connect with others and discover a new passion along the way.

• Dreaming of a Brighter Future: Daniyal’s Story

  The story of how one boy is coping with the trauma of the Beirut explosion.

• How Judith Stood Up to Female Genital Mutilation

  When schools closed due to COVID-19, Judith faced her worst fear. But she resisted the pressure of female genital mutilation.

• I Want to Learn: Mateus’s Story

  The story of how one boy refused to let COVID-19 stop him from learning.

• “Anyone Could Be Next”: Irene’s Story

  The story of how one girl in rural Ghana is defending her community from COVID-19.

• A Champion for Children: Danielle’s Story

  Danielle was just eight when the Burundi Civil War broke out in 1993. By 15, she had lost her family and was a refugee. Right To Play was present in her camp, and she became involved in 2002. She quickly became a young leader. This is her story.

• Big Goals: Tauseef’s Story

  Tauseef is from the well-known football hub of Lyari, Pakistan. But the town is also plagued with poverty, violence and drugs. Tauseef and Right To Play are working with the boys and girls of Lyari to build confidence, communication, and leadership skills.

• Finding the Strength to Help Others: Aya’s Story

  Before Right To Play became a part of her life, Aya was shy and nervous in group settings. Now, she fearlessly speaks to groups of girls and leads them through confidence-building activities.

• Helping Young Refugees Prevent HIV: Robert’s Story

  Robert was skeptical of the power of play at first. But he quickly discovered that play-based learning and sport for development could change the lives of young refugees and children living in poverty in Uganda.

• Witnessing the power of hope in action: Karen Conway's story

  For over a decade, Karen Conway has been inspired by the children in Right To Play programs, and has been working to expand our impact around the globe. This is her story.

• Dreaming Big: Eh Myo Oo’s Story

  Eh Myo Oo is a Takraw star in New Zealand. Just a few years ago, he was in a refugee camp in Thailand, struggling to access the outside world. This is his story.

• Sharing a Legacy of Learning – Karin Howell's Story

  As a teacher in Switzerland, Karin Howell quickly discovered the power play has on children's ability to learn. That is what brought her to Right To Play.

• Witnessing Transformation, Advocating for Education: Allyson Felix’s Story

  Education has always been an important part of Allyson Felix’s life. Providing education opportunities for others is why the legendary Olympian joined the Right To Play team.

• Standing Up For Her Rights: Angelina’s Story

  This is the story of how one young mother in Mozambique refused to give up on her right to an education.

• Believing In Themselves: Bertha and Bilkis’ Stories

  How two young women in Ghana overcame gender stereotypes and stigma to become outspoken leaders for girls in their community.

• Tala Takes a Stand Against Gender Inequality

  It remains far too common for girls to not be given the same opportunities as boys growing up. Tala was expected to stay at home to do housework while the boys played. She challenged that idea.

• Soaring high in the air: Fatima’s story

  Fatima's is the story of a bold young woman who refused to let others limit her dreams.

• Çiya stands up against discrimination through music

  For children like Çiya, the struggle to rise above adversity and find a way back to hope is a long, uphill battle.

• Never Give Up: Chala’s Story

  “Right To Play has played a decisive role in my academic achievement” – Chala, Right To Play alumnus

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

  We have empowered more than 120,000 displaced and refugee children in Thailand to develop confidence in their future. Here's how we're adapting that work amid COVID-19.

• 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.