The first years of a child’s life are foundational. During this time, the brain forms over a million neural connections per second—a pace never matched again. Positive experiences, nurturing relationships, and safe environments are essential for healthy brain development. In crisis settings, however, these critical ingredients are often in short supply.
Children in emergencies face barriers such as displacement, loss of caregivers, limited access to nutritious food, disrupted schooling, and exposure to violence and trauma. Left unaddressed, these challenges can lead to long-term deficits in cognitive, emotional, and social development. The cost is not only personal but societal—entire communities are impacted when generations of children are unable to reach their full potential.
Yet, amidst adversity, there is hope. Studies have shown that play-based learning interventions, delivered in safe and supportive environments, can mitigate the effects of trauma and disruption. Play is not just a leisure activity; it is a powerful tool for learning and healing. Through structured and unstructured play, children develop language, creativity, social skills, and emotional resilience.
The Play Learn Thrive initiative seeks to harness this potential. By investing in scalable, evidence-informed, and locally led interventions, GCC and the LEGO Foundation aim to ensure that children in crisis-affected regions not only survive but thrive.
What the Play Learn Thrive Initiative Funds
The program is built around solutions scalable for broader reach and customized to different local contexts. Examples are:
- Community-led play-based learning initiatives for children who are displaced or refugees
- Early learning centers designed to be mobile or adaptable for remote or under-resourced areas
- Caregiver and educator training programs for children’s development through play
- Programs incorporating mental health and psychosocial support in educational activities
- Technology-enabled solutions for delivering early education in hard-to-reach areas
Successful applicants will receive funding to pilot or expand their interventions, with an emphasis on projects that are sustainable and inclusive. This includes approaches that address gender disparities, support children with disabilities, and actively involve families and communities in the learning process.
Targeted Countries and Settings
The four countries targeted by the Play Learn Thrive initiative—Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, and Uganda—have been selected due to their ongoing challenges with displacement, refugee populations, and fragile educational infrastructure.
In Lebanon and Jordan, the sheer volume of the Syria refugees places additional public services under tight strain. School classrooms are overcrowded, teaching resources are lacking, and vulnerable young children are especially in danger of being left behind.
Kenya and Uganda host significant refugee populations from South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In both countries, efforts to integrate refugees into national education systems are ongoing but face resource and capacity constraints.
Each of these settings presents unique challenges, but also opportunities for innovation and partnership. The initiative invites organizations that have a deep understanding of local dynamics and are already engaged in these communities to apply and scale their impact.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Play Learn Thrive program, the applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Be legally constituted as a not-for-profit entity
- Be legally registered and currently operating programs in at least one of the focus countries
- Provide evidence of work in early childhood development, education, or humanitarian relief
- Have the capacity to manage international funding and meet reporting requirements
Local organizations closely connected to the populations they seek to serve are especially encouraged to apply. We will accord priority consideration to projects in the areas of equity, innovation, and evidence-based solutions.
How to Apply for Funding
To apply to the Play Learn Thrive program, there is a two-step process through the Grand Challenges Canada Fluxx platform:
- Stage One: Eligible organizations begin by filling out a screening questionnaire and introducing themselves with a high-level project description. The initial phase enables the GCC to determine eligibility and alignment toward the objectives of the initiative.
- Stage Two: Shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a full proposal for the project. It should contain the detailed implementation plan, budget, and proof of organizational capacity.
The application portal is open now, and GCC encourages early registration to allow ample time for submission. All instructions, timelines, and support materials are available on GCC’s website.
The Strength of Collaboration: GCC and the LEGO Foundation
Grand Challenges Canada is recognized for its emphasis on ambitious ideas of broad impact. Through the provision of funds to innovators who are solving some of the world’s greatest health and development problems, the GCC is central to creating a better world.
The LEGO Foundation contributes to the collaboration its global leadership in playful learning. Through generations of advocacy and research, the foundation is well-versed in the manner in which children traumatized or grown in insecure situations are constituted through the process of play.
In concert, these two organizations create an influential coalition. Shared dedication to innovation, to fairness, and to child-centered development assures the Play Learn Thrive endeavor is something more than another grant process, but rather a groundbreaking chance for long-term transformation.
A World in Which All Children Flourish
In a world in which over 43 million children have been displaced by conflict and crisis, never have the necessities for specialized, high-impact intervention been stronger. Play Learn Thrive is an important investment in the promise of every child—regardless of where they were born or what they have had to endure.
By supporting innovative, play-based solutions that are rooted in local context and designed for scalability, Grand Challenges Canada and the LEGO Foundation are helping to build a world where children everywhere have the opportunity to grow, learn, and flourish.
If your organization is working to uplift children in Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, or Uganda, now is the time to step forward.
Learn more about the Play Learn Thrive initiative and how to apply through their website.
How Fluxx Supports Seamless Grant Management for Clients Like GCC
The Fluxx platform can handle the whole grantmaking process, from first inquiry to ultimate reporting. The efficient system facilitates applicants to monitor the submission status, obtain timely notifications, and upload required paperwork in a single centralized place.
While reducing administrative burden, Fluxx also ensures improved transparency and communications. Both of these, for organizations operating in fast-changing environments, are the difference between successful roll-out and stalled launch.
