Stories

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Resilience: 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• How a child of war became a warrior for peace

  As a former Right To Play participant, Malual has become a beacon for hope.