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Canada Invests $5 Million to Expand Play-Based Education Globally
Global Affairs Canada partners with Right To Play and Global Citizen on the eve of FIFA World Cup 2026™
On June 11, 2026, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), announced that the Government of Canada is committing $5 million in funding over four years to Right To Play International. This strategic investment aims to drastically improve access to quality basic education, protection, and psychosocial well-being for vulnerable children and youths globally.
Announced on the International Day of Play and precisely on the eve of the historic first FIFA World Cup 2026™ match in Canada, this initiative positions sport, physical activity, and structured play as crucial vehicles for international development and academic engagement.
The “No Child on the Sidelines” Initiative
The Canadian funding will directly support No Child on the Sidelines, a project implemented by Right To Play International in close collaboration with the international advocacy organization Global Citizen.
This programmatic expansion is systematically aligned with the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund campaign, a major global advocacy blueprint designed to mobilize US$100 million for education and sports-based learning globally. By embedding local leadership, gender equity, and trauma-informed instruction into its framework, the project acts as a blueprint for modern international assistance.
Key Objectives and Project Deliverables
- Geographic Focus: Expanding play- and sports-based learning to marginalized children across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, focusing intensely on regions disrupted by conflict, forced displacement, and systemic climate crises.
- Investing in Local Leadership: Allocating localized subgrants to civil society organizations (CSOs) to scale, adapt, and sustain community-led programming.
- Capacity Building: Training local coaches, primary school teachers, and community facilitators in play-based methodologies.
- Amplifying Collective Voice: Developing a unified global network of advocates and local practitioners to champion the right to play within national educational policies.
Project Impact and Financing Breakdown
Canada’s $5 million fiscal injection will serve as catalyst capital. Under the banner of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, these funds will be leveraged to attract additional public-private partnerships, institutional donors, and philanthropic financing.
| Core Metric | Project Details & Targets |
|---|---|
| Funding Amount | $5,000,000 CAD |
| Project Duration | 4 Years (Commencing June 2026) |
| Implementing Partner | Right To Play International |
| Strategic Collaborator | Global Citizen & FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund |
| Direct Beneficiaries | ~60,000 Children, Youth, Coaches, Teachers, and Facilitators |
| Target Regions | Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, and South Asia |
| Primary Core Focus | Play-based education, trauma recovery, child protection, local CSO subgrants |
“Canada recognizes the power of sport and play as important tools for learning, inclusion and development. Through this partnership with Right To Play, and aligned with the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund campaign, Canada is helping more children and youths who face the greatest challenges get access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
— The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development)
Why Play-Based Learning Matters in Crisis Contexts
According to international development data, children in vulnerable regions face escalating barriers to cognitive development due to poverty, structural gender inequality, social exclusion, and armed conflict.
Neurological and educational research demonstrates that structured play is not merely a recreational luxury; it is a developmental necessity. In crisis contexts, play-based education helps children process acute stress, heal from deep-seated emotional trauma, and regain a sense of stability. By integrating cognitive learning with physical movement, children retain literacy and numeracy skills at a significantly higher rate while building vital life skills like teamwork, critical thinking, and emotional resilience.
Information Source: Global Affairs Canada Official Announcement
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