LEGO and UNICEF support conflict-affected children in Iraq
The LEGO Foundation and UNICEF support conflict-affected children in Iraq through play
Baghdad, 16 December 2015 – UNICEF Iraq received a contribution from the LEGO Foundation that will help give around 50,000 children in Iraq a chance to play and learn. The organizations welcomed the contribution of 4,800 boxes containing LEGO play materials. The donation is part of the three-year global partnership between UNICEF and the LEGO Foundation signed in early 2015. Through the partnership, the two organizations promote quality early learning through play for children around the world. While play helps children address stress, it also performs a critical role in the development of the intellectual, emotional, social and creative skills needed to build the foundation for human development and lifelong learning.
Iraq has seen decades of conflict. Currently, nearly 3 million children have had their education disrupted, and nearly 1 million are internally displaced. Furthermore, over 100,000 Syrian children have taken refuge in Iraq.
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Ján Kubiš, reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to children. “Many Iraqi children bear emotional scars from the violence around them, but it is those rendered homeless by conflict who suffer the heaviest consequences. Millions of children, in camps for displaced people and refugees as well as those in host communities have limited or no access to education or recreational activities. It is with their predicament in mind that UNAMI and UNICEF called on LEGO for assistance to extend children affected by the crisis in Iraq with a combination of study and play in the form of creative toys, which might be the first for many of them since they lost their homes and possessions. The donation from LEGO Foundation should be a reminder to Iraqi politicians of the responsibility they share for the future generations, who deserve to live a life of peace and normalcy.”
Generations of children in Iraq have grown up in the midst of conflict, and have witnessed unimaginable acts of extreme violence and have been displaced from their homes and communities. Some children have been displaced multiple times as conflict reaches their new homes. “The opportunity given by the LEGO Foundation should also be used to call for more support to humanitarian programmes, particularly child protection,” Kubiš added.
Representing UNAMI at the delivery ceremony in Baghdad, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Gyorgy Busztin appealed to the Iraqi politicians to think about the children of Iraq as they “are the hardest hit by violence and lack of stability. Their fate needs to be the responsibility of all decision makers. We want for them a happy future, away from violence, conflict and displacement in a country that provides equal rights to all its men, women and children. We want national reconciliation for Iraq that will give back to the children of Iraq what they were deprived of, play, learning and happiness, in other words a full childhood. The LEGO toys will teach them to build so that in the future they will be able to reconstruct their villages and towns ruined by terrorism. They will prove that building is superior to destruction” added DSRSG Busztin.
“The negative impact of this crisis on children cannot be over-emphasized,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Iraq. “Continuing violence has cheated millions of children of their fundamental rights to safety, education and play. Many children have come into this world and grown up knowing only displacement and conflict. The donation from the LEGO Foundation is one positive step forward, allowing some of the most disadvantaged children to play and learn in a fun and safe environment and become the next generation to build a better future for Iraq.”
“Play is the most effective and inspiring way for children to acquire the skills needed to create new possibilities and meet the many challenges of the future. In the midst of violence and instability, playing and education can help to alleviate trauma for conflict-affected children,” said Mirjam Schöning, Global Head of Programmes and Partnerships at the LEGO Foundation. “Through play, children can address stress and develop physical, intellectual and social skills, as well as creativity. Together with UNICEF, we work to put a stake in the ground for children and their development through quality play-based learning.”
The LEGO play materials will be distributed to 538 schools, 46 community centres and 8 child-friendly spaces across Iraq, giving over 50,000 children access to learning activities. The LEGO Foundation and UNICEF will provide training to build the capacity of teachers, facilitators and community members who will then guide children through LEGO activities as part of the initiative.
Photos by UNAMI PIO.
LEGO and UNICEF support conflict-affected children in Iraq
The LEGO Foundation and UNICEF support conflict-affected children in Iraq through play
Baghdad, 16 December 2015 – UNICEF Iraq received a contribution from the LEGO Foundation that will help give around 50,000 children in Iraq a chance to play and learn. The organizations welcomed the contribution of 4,800 boxes containing LEGO play materials. The donation is part of the three-year global partnership between UNICEF and the LEGO Foundation signed in early 2015. Through the partnership, the two organizations promote quality early learning through play for children around the world. While play helps children address stress, it also performs a critical role in the development of the intellectual, emotional, social and creative skills needed to build the foundation for human development and lifelong learning.
Iraq has seen decades of conflict. Currently, nearly 3 million children have had their education disrupted, and nearly 1 million are internally displaced. Furthermore, over 100,000 Syrian children have taken refuge in Iraq.
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Ján Kubiš, reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to children. “Many Iraqi children bear emotional scars from the violence around them, but it is those rendered homeless by conflict who suffer the heaviest consequences. Millions of children, in camps for displaced people and refugees as well as those in host communities have limited or no access to education or recreational activities. It is with their predicament in mind that UNAMI and UNICEF called on LEGO for assistance to extend children affected by the crisis in Iraq with a combination of study and play in the form of creative toys, which might be the first for many of them since they lost their homes and possessions. The donation from LEGO Foundation should be a reminder to Iraqi politicians of the responsibility they share for the future generations, who deserve to live a life of peace and normalcy.”
Generations of children in Iraq have grown up in the midst of conflict, and have witnessed unimaginable acts of extreme violence and have been displaced from their homes and communities. Some children have been displaced multiple times as conflict reaches their new homes. “The opportunity given by the LEGO Foundation should also be used to call for more support to humanitarian programmes, particularly child protection,” Kubiš added.
Representing UNAMI at the delivery ceremony in Baghdad, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Gyorgy Busztin appealed to the Iraqi politicians to think about the children of Iraq as they “are the hardest hit by violence and lack of stability. Their fate needs to be the responsibility of all decision makers. We want for them a happy future, away from violence, conflict and displacement in a country that provides equal rights to all its men, women and children. We want national reconciliation for Iraq that will give back to the children of Iraq what they were deprived of, play, learning and happiness, in other words a full childhood. The LEGO toys will teach them to build so that in the future they will be able to reconstruct their villages and towns ruined by terrorism. They will prove that building is superior to destruction” added DSRSG Busztin.
“The negative impact of this crisis on children cannot be over-emphasized,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Iraq. “Continuing violence has cheated millions of children of their fundamental rights to safety, education and play. Many children have come into this world and grown up knowing only displacement and conflict. The donation from the LEGO Foundation is one positive step forward, allowing some of the most disadvantaged children to play and learn in a fun and safe environment and become the next generation to build a better future for Iraq.”
“Play is the most effective and inspiring way for children to acquire the skills needed to create new possibilities and meet the many challenges of the future. In the midst of violence and instability, playing and education can help to alleviate trauma for conflict-affected children,” said Mirjam Schöning, Global Head of Programmes and Partnerships at the LEGO Foundation. “Through play, children can address stress and develop physical, intellectual and social skills, as well as creativity. Together with UNICEF, we work to put a stake in the ground for children and their development through quality play-based learning.”
The LEGO play materials will be distributed to 538 schools, 46 community centres and 8 child-friendly spaces across Iraq, giving over 50,000 children access to learning activities. The LEGO Foundation and UNICEF will provide training to build the capacity of teachers, facilitators and community members who will then guide children through LEGO activities as part of the initiative.
Photos by UNAMI PIO.