Toybank's digital Play2Learn Program will provide 56,000 at-risk Indian children resilience and continued learning during COVID. The second wave has further aggravated economic, social-emotional & educational turmoil for them. While hardships have caused mental stress, digital divide has led to learning losses. Play2Learn Kit aligned with academic curriculum; teacher training; virtual play sessions; Buddy Program & games distributions will provide them mental relief & learning to face the crisis
UNICEF states, 247 mn Indian children are out of schools due to COVID. Already battling impoverishment and inequities, 115 mn children living in extreme poverty face severe economic hardships, loss of social interactions, uncertainty over returning to school. While the digital divide prevents their continued learning, kids' mental well-being & social-emotional development are being sidelined too. This project will impact 56,000 at-risk kids, building their resilience and learning through Play.
Toybank has modified its in-person program into a digital Play2Learn Program to provide at-risk children mental relief and stimulation, routine-like normalcy, meaningful engagement and continued learning. Initiatives such as the Play2Learn Kit, Buddy Program, teacher training, guiding parents and caregivers, virtual play sessions, etc. create safe and nurturing spaces at children's homes, akin to our Play2Learn Centers. Desk research keeps us updated with kids', caregivers' and teachers' needs.
Mental relief, resilience and continued learning for 56,000 at-risk children can improve their future outcomes despite the COVID crisis. This project will prevent reversal of progress our kids have shown with 32% increase in curiosity, 42% in honesty levels & 25% in attendance. As students have lost out on 75 out of 190 days of learning in an academic year, our Play interventions will also build their problem-solving, critical thinking and confidence to make them school-ready and life-ready.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).