Our Stories
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From Harry to Mama Viazi to DAERO: Scaling playful edutainment learning across contexts and platforms
In a small animal village in Latin America, a curious character named Harry once helped children explore joy, fear, empathy, and friendship. What began as a playful edutainment experiment, On Air with Harry, part of the La Aldea universe, has since…
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First PlayMatters Learning through Play e-course goes live in Tanzania
The PlayMatters Learning through Play (LtP) e-course was recently developed and rolled out in Tanzania in January 2026, through a strong collaboration between PlayMatters, the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE), and the Agency for the Development…
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From Play to Progress: Tanzania Celebrates a Milestone in Education
The official close of the PlayMatters Project wasn't an ending, but a celebration of a legacy taking root. On September 24, 2025, the air at Dar es Salaam's Sea Shells Hotel was electric with student performances and a shared commitment to the…
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From a tree shade to classrooms of joyful learning
In Palabek Refugee Settlement, in Lamwo District, Northern Uganda, Bright Future Nursery and Primary School has become a beacon of hope for thousands of host community and refugee children. A few years ago, learning at Bright Future…
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A day in the life of a PlayMatters teacher
At the break of every dawn in Palabek refugee settlement, Lamwo District, Bright Future Primary School opens to the sound of children’s laughter echoing across the village. In the middle of this energy is Teacher Thomas Opio, a dedicated educator…
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Where Leadership Meets Impact: Championing Learning through Play in Yumbe District Local Government
At the heart of this transformation is Hajj Abdul Mahmoud Mutalib, the District Chairperson of Yumbe District Local Government, with years of experience in both classroom teaching and public leadership. Mahmoud has become a passionate advocate for…
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Teacher Richard champions locally made teaching and learning materials
Through creativity and passion for teaching and learning, Teacher Richard Munguni is transforming classrooms one at a time with the locally available materials. His innovative approach is not only elevating learning at his school but also sparking…
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Sr. Secunda’s journey to becoming a Learning through Play Champion
When Sister Kasingye Secunda took over as head teacher of St. Joseph’s Kyabirukwa Primary School in 2020, she had no idea her first days in leadership would be defined by a global pandemic. “I took over this school in 2020, when it was COVID time.…
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A future of Learning through Play
Teacher Grace, the head of the English Department and a teacher for over nine years at Addu Primary School in Terego district, Uganda, says she is happy to own the Learning through Play teacher workbook, which she will continue to use as a guide…
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Building resilience and joy in learning: Teacher Meselech’s story.
Meselech, 37, (pictured above) stands in her classroom at Core 107 Primary School in Sheraro, Tigray, Ethiopia, her hands carefully arranging colorful LEGO bricks on the desk. Her students, mostly local children from the Sheraro Town community, sit…