Empowering Refugee Children: Introducing the Scaling Learning Through Play Project.
Empowering Refugee Children: Introducing the Scaling Learning Through Play Project
In the heart of the Kakuma Refugee camp, a community facing immense challenges and uncertainties, a glimmer of hope emerges through the Scaling Learning Through Play project. This transformative initiative aims to address a multitude of obstacles that children in Kakuma Refugee communities encounter daily, offering them a chance to develop critical skills, find a sense of belonging, and shape a brighter future despite their circumstances.
Understanding the Challenges.
For Refugee children in Kakuma, life has been far from ordinary. Displacement, conflict, and loss have left deep scars on their young hearts. The refugee camp, while providing a sanctuary, presents its own set of difficulties, from limited access to essentials like food, healthcare, and education to the lack of safe spaces for learning and play. The Scaling Learning Through Play project sets out to combat these challenges head-on.
Empowering Through Play
At the heart of the project lies the Collab-Innovate: Build, Create and Solve (BCS) Course, designed to be a beacon of light for these children. And with funding and support from WEARECOHERE, the project has been provided with all the needed resources to make a positive impact in the lives of these young ones. The BCS course is meticulously crafted to foster critical skills such as problem-solving, innovation, and collaboration. These abilities are not only essential for their immediate growth but are also pivotal for their future success. By engaging in creative and collaborative activities, children are empowered to face challenges with a forward-looking perspective, focusing on solutions rather than obstacles.
Nurturing Resilience and Growth
Through hands-on experiences like designing and building tasks, children are encouraged to think outside the box while collaboratively working with their peers. Mistakes are embraced as part of the learning journey, teaching children that growth comes from perseverance and adaptation. Open-ended challenges that nurture their creativity and critical thinking, empowering them with a growth mindset that believes effort and practice lead to improvement.
Fostering a Safe Haven
The project recognizes the need for a safe and nurturing environment. A dedicated safe space is established within the WFI learning center, equipped with resources to encourage learning and play. Trained facilitators to ensure the children’s safety and happiness during project activities as well as regular check-ins to provide reassurance, ensuring the children feel supported and cared for.
Building a Sense of Community
A unique aspect of the project is its focus on fostering a sense of community and belonging. Children are given the opportunity to showcase their achievements, a powerful way to celebrate their efforts and talents. This not only boosts their self-confidence but also strengthens the bond among children and their families. Through collaborative work and engagement with the wider community, a shared vision emerges, transcending the challenges that the camp presents.
Targeting Tomorrow’s Leaders
The Scaling Learning Through Play project primarily targets children between the ages of 9 and 14, encompassing various nationalities residing in the Kakuma refugee camp, including children with disabilities. These vulnerable children, often overlooked, are provided with a chance to access education and life skills that will enable them to rise above their circumstances.
In a world where hope can be elusive, the Scaling Learning Through Play project stands as a beacon of possibility for the children of Kakuma. By nurturing their abilities, creating safe spaces, and building a sense of community, the project paves the way for these young minds to grow, thrive, and shape their destinies. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and foster a brighter future for the children who need it the most.
