Every Child Deserves To Play and Thrive

In rural Uganda, many children lack access to quality foundational literacy and social-emotional learning (SEL). Poor educational outcomes are exacerbated by inadequate resources, untrained teachers, and disengagement from marginalized communities. As a result, 39.5% of children in grades 3 to 7 can only read at a grade 2 level, and 25.1% cannot read basic words (Uwezo, 2021; World Bank, 2022). Compounding this issue, 17.6% of schoolchildren face mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression (New Vision, 2025), further hindering their academic and personal development. Without support in both emotional and academic growth, these children are trapped in a cycle of poverty and inequality.

Our Solution:

We have developed and are implementing our Play, Learn and Grow Toolkit that uses play to integrate SEL into foundational literacy. In our pilot phase, through fun and engaging activities, we are impacting 1,400 learners across 7 primary schools in Luuka District, developing foundational literacy and essential SEL skills, including, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making and determination.

By combining these SEL skills with foundational literacy, we are empowering children to thrive academically and emotionally.

Our Goal:
Our goal is to expand the impact of our approach to 150 schools, reaching over 30,000 children annually. By empowering these children with foundational literacy and SEL skills, we aim to break the cycle of poverty and create lasting change for future generations.