Help children everywhere grow emotional well-being. Many kids today feel anxious or alone with their feelings. POP-UP Festival is a free, play-based EQ event that anyone can host at school, at home, or in the community. Our free kit helps kids name and share feelings, show empathy, make friends, and set goals. About 14,000 volunteers have signed up to host POP-UPs in 200 countries and territories, with activities translated into 30+ languages. For every child to play, feel, connect, and thrive.
Our 2025 study of 28,000 people in 166 countries found that emotional intelligence dropped almost 6% from 2019 to 2024, and well-being scored the lowest of all life outcomes. The WHO reports that about 1 in 4 teens is socially isolated, and students with connections are more likely to get higher grades. The good news: emotions connect us, and we can learn emotional skills at any age. What if kids and adults could learn emotions together, through play, and talk naturally about feelings?
POP-UP Festivals work in 3 ways. EDUCATE: Through play, kids and adults explore big feelings, get to know themselves, and learn to share their thoughts and feelings with others. EMPOWER: In every activity, kids are listened to without judgment. They feel seen, heard, and safe enough to set goals, create solutions, and take their own next steps. CONNECT: When we talk about emotions, we connect. Every POP-UP Festival is part of a global community sharing free resources and support.
Emotional skills last a lifetime. The CDC notes that kids who feel connected at school are less likely to struggle with their mental health, and the benefits can last into adulthood. A Columbia University study found that school SEL programs return about $11 for every $1 invested. In 2026, 34 POP-UP leaders and 9 youth leaders are growing right alongside kids. The change does not stop with one child. It ripples out to families, schools, communities, and the world. And it can start with you.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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