Let's Learn and Play

Play is one of the most important ways in which young children gain essential knowledge and skills. Learning through play is crucial for children’s positive development, regardless their circumstances.  For this reason, play opportunities and environments that promote play, exploration and hands-on learning are at the core of UNICEF Early Childhood Development (ECD) programming.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected children’s education worldwide, and the Egyptian context was no exception. Vulnerable Egyptian and Refugee children's education were drastically interrupted.

In 2020, the cooperation between UNICEF Egypt, UNICEF Denmark NATCOM and the LEGO Foundation was extended to a second phase to continue the existing program while addressing the immediate educational needs of additional vulnerable children including Egyptian and refugee children.

UNICEF received a total of 2,683 LEGO play boxes, which were distributed to 81 refugee community schools, 1,281 Egyptian community schools and 237 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers and benefitted more than 55,000 refugee and Egyptian children across the country. UNICEF trained 3,356 practitioners on how to create playful experiences using LEGO bricks promoting children’s drive and motivation to learn.

In this photo essay, we learn more about this program and witness the first moments when the children of Tender Care Community School and Sayyeda Zeinab ECD center in Cairo enjoy the new LEGO bricks.