About Right To Play
In 1994, Norwegian speed skater Johann Olav Koss led a humanitarian trip to Eritrea. There, he came face-to-face with the realities of life in a country emerging from decades of war – and with the power of play. Amid burned-out tanks, children played together, kicking a shirtball back and forth. The children’s incredible resilience in the face of hopelessness inspired Koss to found Right To Play. Twenty years on, Right To Play has grown to reach millions of children in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada. We create positive and safe environments where children can learn and succeed, and use play in all its forms to provide rich and engaged learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. Our vision is to empower 100 million children by 2030 with the education, skills, and opportunities they need to rise above adversity and create a more peaceful and equitable world.