WISE-ED Report: Supporting the Creation of the International Day of Play

Background

In 2022 and 2023, The World Institute for Social Education Development (WISE-ED) was honored to as as a liasion with the LEGO Foundation and the Government of Kenya in supporting and co-developing the National Day of Play—a landmark initiative that celebrates the power of play as a tool for peace, education, and nation-building. This collaboration reflects our shared belief that play is essential for lifelong learning, emotional development, and social cohesion.

Global Engagement: A Touching Moment at UNGA 2023

A pivotal moment in our advocacy for play came during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 2023, where WISE-ED joined global partners—including the LEGO Foundation and representatives from the Government of Kenya—for a special gathering focused on the transformative power of play. During the meeting, participants shared what play meant to them—stories of healing, resilience, and connection. It was a powerful reminder: play is not trivial—it is essential. That gathering solidified our shared mission to ensure every child, everywhere, has access to play as a path to peace and possibility. We were excited to hear that the ratificaiton of a day of play was completed March 2024, with more than 100 countries supporting this initiative. Subseaquently, it has been wonderful to see the progress and growth of this mission as we celebrate a 2nd year of the International Day of Play around the world.

Royal Danish Embassy Kenya, 2023

Why We Support the Day of Play

At WISE-ED, we recognize that play is not just an activity for children—it is a fundamental right and a critical educational methodology. The Day of Play is more than a celebration; it is a public declaration that play matters in shaping the future of learners, communities, and countries. Through our engagement, we aim to amplify the impact of this initiative and ensure it reaches rural, marginalized, and conflict-affected regions, where structured opportunities for creative learning are often scarce.

Play-Based Curriculum for ECDE

Over the last decade, WISE-ED has invested in designing and implementing play-based Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) curricula that support holistic learning outcomes. Our approach emphasizes experiential learning through storytelling, role-play, music, and hands-on exploration—methods proven to improve cognitive and emotional development. These curricula are aligned with Kenya’s competency-based curriculum (CBC), reinforcing the Ministry of Education’s goals to promote creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking from the earliest years.

Training Teachers in SEL and STEM Through Play

For over 10 years, WISE-ED has led professional development initiatives to train thousands of teachers across East Africa in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and STEM education, using play as a central methodology. Through our workshops, teacher toolkits, and school partnerships, we’ve seen firsthand how playful learning environments boost student engagement, reduce behavioral issues, and improve academic performance—particularly in underserved areas. We’ve developed training modules that empower educators to integrate storytelling, games, and inquiry-based experiments into their classrooms, making complex subjects accessible and enjoyable.

Looking Ahead: Our 10-Year Vision for Play-Based Learning (2025–2035)

As WISE-ED looks to the future, our commitment to play as a catalyst for learning, healing, and peace remains at the core of our mission. Over the next 10 years, we are setting bold, measurable goals to expand the reach and impact of our play-based initiatives:

• Train 100,000 educators across Africa and the Global South in integrating play-based methods into their classrooms—providing them with tools to teach foundational literacy, numeracy, STEM, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) through engaging, joyful approaches.

• Establish and support 2000 new Bridge of Hope (BOH) Clubs by 2030 in underserved, rural, and conflict-affected communities, providing year-round safe spaces for children and youth to learn, heal, and lead through play.

• Promote and scale our play-based curriculum, designed specifically for foundational learning, creativity, collaboration, and resilience—aligning with national education reforms and the needs of 21st-century learners.

• Expand the use of LEGO® Serious Play® methodology and design thinking to deliver professional development workshops for teachers, education officers, and community leaders—leveraging hands-on learning to deepen understanding, build empathy, and solve real-world challenges collaboratively.

This vision is not just about expanding programs—it’s about transforming mindsets. We believe that every classroom can become a space of creativity, discovery, and peace. With the right training, support, and community engagement, play will no longer be seen as an extra, but as an essential.

Together with our partners and our global network, we are building a generation of educators and learners who believe that play is power, play is healing, and play is the future of education.

Together, we are not just playing—we are building futures.