Play On! Liberia: Transforming Children’s Lives Through the Power of Play

In Liberia, children face huge challenges. Poverty, limited access to quality education, and the lingering effects of intergenerational trauma from a devastating civil war in the 1990s affect the daily lives of many, especially for those in refugee communities. Yet, in the face of these hardships, children find joy and a brighter future through something as simple—and powerful—as play.

What’s happening in Liberia?

Liberia ranks among the poorest nations globally, with significant barriers to human rights like education and healthcare. Over 30% of children experience stunted growth due to malnutrition, and nearly 40% of adolescents are out of school.

In addition to these challenges, Liberia is host to more than 18,000 refugees, most from Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, as well as Syria, Pakistan, and Lebanon.

For refugee children—many of whom fled violence in neighbouring countries—the trauma of displacement exacerbates these challenges, making the need for focused support urgent and undeniable.

Children in Liberia play with a new Etch-a-sketch—just one of 25,000 new toys delivered from Spin Master’s Toy Movement as part of the Play On! program.
Photo: Save the Children

This is where Play On! steps in, providing not only toys but also a structured, evidence-based approach to improving children’s emotional and mental well-being.

What Is Play On! Liberia?

As part of Liberia’s long-term health, nutrition, and education programming, Save the Children implemented the Play On! curriculum in coordination with regional and municipal governments.

Supported by Spin Master, a leading Canadian-based children’s entertainment company, the curriculum leverages the universal language of play to help children heal and thrive. Using evidence-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) strategies, the program is designed to help children play, learn, and recover from distressing experiences in a safe environment using toy-based play. The curriculum includes toy-based activities, guidance for teachers and facilitators, and dozens of breathing exercises and stretching movements that support MHPSS.

Currently, only a very small percentage of overall humanitarian funding is used for child protection, mental health and psychosocial support services, and education in emergencies.

The Play On! curriculum has the potential to help fill this gap. It has been translated into multiple languages and adapted for use in refugee camps like those in Dadaab, Kenya, and refugee transit centres in Nicaragua, for example, increasing awareness of the need for funding for mental health and psychosocial support for children in emergencies.

Save the Children in Partnership with Spin Master

Save the Children has partnered with Spin Master for the past seven years. Known for beloved toy brands like PAW Patrol, Bakugan, and Kinetic Sand, Spin Master creates memorable play experiences for children through innovative toys, engaging entertainment, and creative digital games.

A Play On! facilitator plays with the children and their new Teddy Bears from Spin Master’s Toy Movement.
Photo: Save the Children

The Toy Movement is a philanthropic initiative from Spin Master that provides toys to children who are disadvantaged and displaced around the world with the hope of bringing inspiration, imagination, and joy through play. Spin Master’s mission with the Toy Movement is to share the message that children are not alone, are not forgotten, and deserve to grow, learn and explore through play—as all children should.

How Play On! works

Toys are delivered through Spin Master’s Toy Movement initiative. Toys included in the delivery are thoughtfully considered so that they are age-appropriate and engaging for the children involved in the program. In Liberia, this includes 27,000 children aged three to 11 in 95 schools.

Save the Children Liberia Staff receive the toys and prepare them for distribution.
Photo: Save the Children

Educators and Child Friendly Space facilitators are equipped with tools and training to use the curriculum and create nurturing environments that promote emotional resilience, mental health, and meaningful social connections.

After participating in the workshop, these teachers and facilitators are now ready to use the curriculum in their classrooms and child-friendly spaces.
Photo: Save the Children

The Impact of Play On!

The transformative power of play is backed by research. Play-based interventions:

Boost Emotional Health: Helping children process trauma and build coping mechanisms.

Enhance Learning Outcomes: Stimulating creativity and cognitive development, improving focus in the classroom.

Promote Social Skills: Encouraging teamwork, communication, and empathy among peers.

Children in southeastern Liberia play volleyball with the new ball and net from Spin Master’s Toy Movement.
Photo: Save the Children

By incorporating structured play into everyday learning, Play On! helps children process their experiences, build confidence, and find hope for the future.

In Liberia, these benefits are already making a difference. At one school in southeastern Liberia, for example, the Play On! program serves 1,116 refugee students from Côte d’Ivoire, providing a safe and supportive environment for them to grow and thrive.

Why It Matters

Children in Liberia face a difficult and uncertain reality, but they also hold the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Programs like Play On! are vital because they invest in the potential of every child, recognizing that every child—even those in the most difficult places to be a child—has the right to a childhood and to grow up healthy, educated, and safe.

In a country where nearly half of the population is under the age of 18, the ripple effects of empowering one generation with resilience and hope through play can shape the future of an entire nation.

How You Can Help

No matter where they live, every child deserves to know that they are not alone, are not forgotten, and deserve to play, learn, and grow—as all children should.

You can help us reach more children with that message. With your support, we can help more children get access to things like emergency food, clean water, healthcare, psychosocial support, a safe place to play, and access to education. Together, we can unblock the potential of children in places like Liberia so they can build a brighter future.