Published: 07:13 AM, 14 July 2026
BRAC and LEGO Foundation invest $50m in crisis-affected children
BRAC and the LEGO Foundation on Monday launched Sustaining Play, Learning and Skills in Humanitarian Contexts (SPLASH), a landmark initiative aimed at ensuring safe, inclusive and play-based learning opportunities for children affected by humanitarian crises.
The inauguration ceremony held at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka on Monday highlighted the urgent need to safeguard children's education, mental wellbeing and long-term development through sustained support from early childhood, alongside strengthening the capacities of parents, teachers and local communities.
The first session of the event was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain as chief guest, while State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj addressed the second session as chief guest.
Director General (Secretary) of the NGO Affairs Bureau Dr Mohammed Jakaria attended as special guest and Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammed Mizanur Rahman joined as guest of honour. BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh delivered the opening remarks, while a video message from Tarek Alami, Vice President and Head of International Programmes at the LEGO Foundation, was screened.
Speakers noted that more than 473 million children worldwide are currently living in conflict-affected or humanitarian settings, while over 52 million children remain out of school, with access to education, protection and mental health support remaining critically limited.
Through a five-year partnership worth USD 50 million, BRAC and the LEGO Foundation will support 400,000 children and adolescents affected by humanitarian crises in Bangladesh and Uganda. The initiative will also strengthen the capacities of parents and teachers to create nurturing environments that foster children's learning, resilience and overall development.
Addressing the opening session, Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said every child deserves to feel safe, valued and included, stressing that investing in children today will help build responsible and resilient leaders for the future.
State Minister Bobby Hajjaj underscored the transformative potential of play-based learning in encouraging children's interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from an early age. He said successful models developed through the partnership could be adapted and expanded across government primary schools, contributing to the country's long-term social and economic development.
BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh said sustainable development must be rooted in local needs and driven by local actors with a long-term vision. He described the partnership as unique because it combines locally developed, low-cost and scalable solutions with long-term institutional collaboration.
During the event, BRAC officials highlighted the role of play-based learning in children's cognitive, emotional and social development, while a panel discussion explored ways to strengthen child-centred education in humanitarian settings through collaboration between government institutions, educators and development partners.
The first phase of SPLASH will be implemented in Bangladesh from June 2026 to December 2028, providing age-appropriate support for children and adolescents from birth to 18 years. The initiative will include responsive caregiving for young children, play-based early learning in refugee camps and host communities, support for pre-primary and primary education, as well as life skills, vocational training, mentoring and livelihood pathways for adolescents. It will also strengthen the role of parents, teachers and local communities in supporting children's education and holistic development.
Representatives from government agencies, development partners, UNICEF Bangladesh, BRAC and other stakeholders also attended the programme, reaffirming their commitment to advancing play-based learning and improving the lives of children affected by humanitarian crises.
