The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the LEGO Foundation celebrated the first year of the childhood development program partnership in Ethiopia. Since its launch, the program has supported more than 15,000 pre-primary children and their communities affected by conflict and drought across the Amhara, Afar, Tigray, Oromia, and Somali regions in Ethiopia. The program includes nourishment, teachers, and facilitators training, psychosocial first aid, play-based pre-primary education, and more. The childhood development program particularly focuses on internally displaced persons and refugee communities.
Since 2019, the USAID and the LEGO Foundation have collaborated and co-invested resources and expertise to meet children’s pre-primary and primary-education needs. In addition to partnering in Ethiopia, USAID and the LEGO Foundation have worked together to advance shared priorities at the global level around early childhood development in Colombia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia on issues including pre-primary and primary education, social-emotional learning, and playful learning approaches.
This partnership is a testament to USAID’s continued commitment to engaging the private sector in building more resilient education systems in emerging crises around the world.
The LEGO Foundation shares the mission of the LEGO Group: to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. The Foundation is dedicated to building a future in which learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners. Founded in 1986, the LEGO Foundation, a global nonprofit organization headquartered in Billund, Denmark, empowers children through playful learning. Driven by a mission to nurture the builders of tomorrow, they foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, especially in underserved communities. Through partnerships, research, and advocacy, the foundation equips children to become lifelong learners and engaged citizens, shaping a brighter future for all.
USAID is a United States’ federal agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. Established in 1961, USAID operates globally, working to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by promoting sustainable development, economic growth, and humanitarian assistance. Through partnerships with governments, NGOs, and the private sector, USAID addresses a wide range of issues including global health, education, economic development, democracy promotion, and disaster relief. With a focus on fostering self-reliance and building resilient communities, USAID plays a crucial role in shaping America’s engagement in international development efforts.
Source: USAID