A culturally embedded and play-based approach to supporting the mental health, development and education of displaced children affected by conflict and crisis

UNICEF reports that children represent 50% of refugee populations. The impact of displacement on children is significant, impacting mental health and development across domains. Only around 3% of global humanitarian funding is allocated to education and with such a sizeable population of children affected, cost-effective sustainable interventions are much needed. Based on research underpinning the developmental and therapeutic benefits of play, this research develops and pilots a sustainable model of integrating play in educational contexts to strengthen mental health and subsequent developmental and educational outcomes of displaced Rohingya and host community children in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. This research; identifies meaningful play activities amongst these children, designs and integrates culturally specific play interventions within educational contexts and, evaluates their impact. Via this model, it is intended that a broad population benefit from the inherent value of everyday play allowing more costly psychological interventions for the most needy to be employed efficiently.