Experts and stakeholders have stressed the importance of prioritising Early Childhood Development (ECD) as an essential service during humanitarian crises, emphasising its critical role in fostering resilience and holistic growth among children.
This call to action was the central theme of an event titled "Play with a Purpose: Insights and Impacts from the Play to Learn Partnership," organised by Sesame Workshop in collaboration with consortium partners BRAC, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and New York University’s Global TIES for Children, reads a press release.
The event, held in Cox’s Bazar, was inaugurated by Rohingya Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman.
Md. Samsud-Douza, additional commissioner for Refugee Relief and Repatriation, attended as the chief guest of the second session, while District Commissioner Md. Salahuddin graced the closing ceremony as the chief guest.
Key leaders from Sesame Workshop USA, New York University, and various national, international, and UN organisations joined approximately 150 participants to discuss the significance of ECD in crisis settings. Particular attention was given to the needs of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals residing in the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh.
The Play to Learn project, spearheaded by Sesame Workshop and its partners, has made remarkable strides in advancing ECD for children in crisis. The project aims to enhance children’s physical and cognitive development through innovative approaches centered on play and education.
At the heart of the initiative are Noor and Aziz, two fictional Rohingya child characters created to connect with displaced children and inspire learning through storytelling and entertainment. These characters have gained widespread popularity among children in the camps.
To support learning, Sesame Workshop has produced approximately 150 educational videos in the Rohingya language featuring Noor and Aziz. These videos are shared in the camps via PICO projectors distributed to BRAC Play Labs, UNHCR centers, and partner organizations such as Save the Children, Terre des Hommes, Relief International, and CODEC.
The organisation has developed 12 storybooks in Burmese, English, and Bangla, which are distributed through 14 partner organisations across Rohingya ECD centers, reaching approximately 200,000 children. Families have also received ECD Home Kits, along with caregiver training to ensure their effective use.
The programme revealed remarkable achievements, reporting that 8,00000 children from the Rohingya and host communities participated in the 'Play to Learn' initiative over the past six years. Research studies indicate that 70% of children reached a target for their holistic development, including creative, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social skills, based on monitoring data, 91% of children met targets for good mental health and 96% of caregivers reported feeling healthy mentally and emotionally.
