World: The LEGO Foundation commits $97 million to help IRC scale early learning for 5 million children affected by crisis

Countries: World, Ethiopia, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda Source: International Rescue Committee New York, NY, May 27, 2026 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the LEGO Foundation today announced a five-year $97 million partnership to expand early learning support for more than five million children affected by conflict and crisis across East Africa and the Middle East by integrating play-based early learning into national education, health, and early childhood services. More than 400 million children live in or are fleeing conflict zones where disrupted schooling, toxic stress, food insecurity, and limited access to early learning threaten their development. At the same time, financing for education and early childhood development (ECD) programs is limited. Less than 4% of aid to crisis-affected countries supports early childhood development—despite strong evidence that early investment has the highest returns. “This is a landmark commitment by the LEGO Foundation, which provides hope to millions of children, and I hope will inspire philanthropists to think big and follow the evidence,” said **David Miliband, President and CEO at the IRC. “** For the millions of children growing up in conflict zones, disruption—not development—is the order of the day. Through this partnership, the IRC and the LEGO Foundation are embedding proven, playful learning into national systems, moving from helping children cope with crisis to giving them a real chance to thrive—at scale and over time.” This partnership will enable the IRC, the LEGO Foundation, government and non-government partners to transform how children affected by crises across East Africa and the Middle East are supported to learn, develop, and thrive. Built on two pillars, the initiative w...

Original source: Relief Web