Bangla Press Desk: BRAC and the LEGO Foundation on Monday launched a five-year initiative, titled Sustaining Play, Learning and Skills in Humanitarian Contexts (SPLASH), to provide play-based learning, education and mental health support to 400,000 children and adolescents affected by humanitarian crises in Bangladesh and Uganda.
The initiative, backed by a $50 million partnership, aims to improve access to safe, inclusive and age-appropriate learning opportunities for children living in refugee camps, host communities and other humanitarian settings, while also strengthening the capacities of parents, teachers and local communities.
The programme was inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, where speakers stressed that sustained investment in children's education, mental wellbeing and early development is essential to help them continue learning and realise their full potential despite displacement and crises.
Addressing the opening session as chief guest, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said that every child deserves to feel safe, valued and supported, describing young people as one of the country's greatest assets.
He said partnerships such as SPLASH would help ensure children receive the care, opportunities and nurturing needed to become responsible and resilient future leaders.
Speaking at the second session, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said play-based learning could significantly increase children's interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from an early age.
He said the government would explore opportunities to adapt and expand successful models developed by BRAC and the LEGO Foundation across government primary schools.
BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh said development initiatives should be driven by local needs and designed for long-term impact rather than short-term projects.
He said the partnership reflects BRAC's long-standing approach of developing low-cost, scalable solutions before expanding them through collaboration with governments and development partners.
According to BRAC, more than 473 million children worldwide currently live in conflict-affected and humanitarian settings, while over 52 million remain out of school. Through SPLASH, children from birth to 18 years will receive support ranging from responsive caregiving and play-based early learning to pre-primary and primary education, life skills, vocational training, mentoring and livelihood opportunities.
Representatives from the government, development partners, UNICEF, and education institutions attended the programme. The first phase of SPLASH in Bangladesh will run from June 2026 to December 2028.
