The PlayMatters Evidence Summit has wrapped up at Lake Victoria Serena Hotel, Kigo, bringing together educators, policymakers, and development partners from across East Africa to reflect on five years of education impact through play.
The meeting, themed “Telling PlayMatters’ Story of Success Through Evidence,” marked the end of the PlayMatters 2.0 phase.
The initiative is funded by the LEGO Foundation and led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) alongside Plan International, War Child, Innovations for Poverty Action, and the Behavioural Insights Team.
Implemented in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, the programme has focused on strengthening education systems in refugee and host communities by institutionalising playful learning in classrooms and teacher training.
Elijah Okeyo, Country Director of the IRC in Uganda, said the project had shown that play-based learning is a powerful tool for improving learning outcomes.
“For the past five years, PlayMatters has championed innovative approaches to education, integrating playful learning into schools and communities across East Africa,” he said.
“Our collective efforts have reached thousands of children and teachers, demonstrating that playful learning is not just fun, it is transformative.”
He urged stakeholders to sustain momentum, saying the summit served both as a celebration of achievements and a platform for sharing evidence and innovation.
Andrew Tabura, Principal Education Officer at the Ministry of Education and Sports, commended the project partners and highlighted the government’s role in institutionalising play-based learning.
“I'd like to recognise and applaud colleagues from the Basic Education Department, Teacher Education and Training, the Directorate of Education Standards, NCDC, and the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education,” he said, adding that universities such as Makerere and Kyambogo had also supported this work.
Tabura described play as a “powerful engine of learning” that boosts creativity, innovation, and social competence.
“School is not a prison. Learning should not be a burden. Every child deserves a decent education that is enjoyable,” he said, quoting Albert Einstein’s view that “play is the highest form of research.”
Adam Sparre, Deputy Head of Mission at the Danish Embassy in Uganda, praised Uganda’s refugee response and the role of PlayMatters in advancing learning in emergencies.
“Uganda stands as a global example of solidarity,” he said. “Hosting close to two million refugees, Uganda has maintained an inclusive policy that allows refugees to access the same public services as host communities.”
However, he noted ongoing strains on the system due to overcrowded schools and declining funding, stressing that education for refugee children must remain a priority.
Mary Winters, Senior Programme Specialist at the LEGO Foundation, said playful learning had brought hope and resilience to children affected by conflict and displacement.
“Since 2019, the LEGO Foundation has invested $100 million to bring play-based pre-primary and primary education to children affected by protracted crises in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania,” she said, citing achievements including Uganda’s National Learning Through Play Guidelines and teacher training tools in Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Phoebe Kasoga, Country Director of Plan International Uganda, called for greater innovation and research in humanitarian education programming, noting that limited resources demand smarter solutions supported by evidence.
“We cannot talk about models without research,” she said. “Research is the foundation for quality and innovation.”
The summit concluded with renewed commitments from governments and partners to scale play-based learning across national education systems, ensuring children in East Africa continue to learn, play, and thrive.