11/06/2026
International Day of Play: Every Child Deserves the Chance to Learn Through Play
Play is often seen as a simple childhood pastime - but for young children, play is how they discover the world, build relationships, solve problems, and develop the skills they will carry throughout their lives.
On this International Day of Play, we celebrate a simple truth: **play is not a break from learning—it is learning.**
In South Africa, where many young children face barriers to accessing quality early learning opportunities, investing in play-based education is investing in brighter futures.
Through the **Funda Udlale Nathi (FUN) Project**, implemented in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, VVOB in South Africa, and Ntataise Trust, ECD practitioners and Grade R teachers are being equipped with practical skills to bring Learning Through Play into their classrooms every day.
Through structured Professional Learning Communities, online learning, and collaborative support, educators are growing in confidence and creativity—using play to strengthen literacy, numeracy, communication, problem-solving, and social-emotional development.
Every educator empowered through the FUN Project reaches hundreds of young children, creating a ripple effect that extends to families and communities.
This International Day of Play, we celebrate the practitioners who transform ordinary moments into extraordinary learning opportunities and recognise that when we invest in play, we invest in children's potential.
Because every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive through the power of play.
