2024 grant highlights
All grants committed in 2024 are important. Here are some of highlights:
Better early childhoods
ESTABLISHING THE CENTRE FOR BETTER CHILDHOODS IN DENMARK
... to help ensure the best start in life for all 0–6-year-old children in Denmark, regardless of the circumstances in which they grow up. The centre aims to bridge the gap between research and practice.
Social-emotional learning
TRAINING 130,000 TEACHERS TO FACILITATE
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN UKRAINE ...through the Social-Emotional Learning Impulse Programme.
“As the war is still ongoing, children’s needs within well-being and social-emotional coping are rapidly increasing. This programme will enable the in-service and preservice teacher training system to support social and emotional wellbeing, resilience, sense of agency, holistic development and learning outcomes for 3,5 million children, helping them connect with others and navigate life’s challenges in the protracted crisis and beyond.”
— OKSANA ROMA, LEGO FOUNDATION, UKRAINE
University College Copenhagen and co-funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and TrygFonden (up to DKK 250 million in total)
LEGO® Braille Bricks
BRINGING THE LEGO BRAILLE BRICKS PLAYFUL APPROACH TO 6,900 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
– including 1,700 blind and visually impaired children – in Mexico and Vietnam
WHEN 2025-2028
WHERE Mexico and Vietnam
GRANT
DKK 14,1 million PARTNERS
Perkins School for the Blind
“Children with disabilities in Vietnam need better support from their teachers. To help teachers enhance their skills in supporting students with disabilities, Perkins is thrilled to get the opportunity to introduce LEGO Braille Bricks as a catalytic tool for play-based learning and literacy.”
—
ADVISOR, VIETNAM
TRINH THU THANH, PERKINS EDUCATIONAL
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LEGO BRAILLE BRICKS
Learning through play locally
ENHANCING CHILDREN’S LIVES BY EMPOWERING THEM TO LEARN AND THRIVE THROUGH PLAY
The Local Community Engagement project is a collaborative effort between the LEGO Foundation and the LEGO Group’s Social Responsibility team. The programme promotes equity and provides underserved children with access to inclusive, quality learning through play experiences, aiming to develop their holistic skills. LEGO Ecocystem employees volunteering is a key part of the programme.
WHEN 2024-2025
WHERE
Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, Spain, UK, USA and Vietnam.
GRANTS
DKK 78,7 million (in total)
PARTNERS
More than 65 local organisations
Building bridges with 25,550 LEGO® Play Boxes
RETIRED LEGO EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEER AT LEGO CHARITY TO PACK LEGO PLAY BOXES FOR CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD, GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THROUGH PLAY
– The LEGO Play Box is a non-commercial product, partly made up of surplus materials, specifically assembled with learning through play in mind. It is particularly designed to help children develop tools for dealing with social and emotional challenges. When donating LEGO Play Boxes, the LEGO Foundation always ensures that LEGO Foundation employees or local partners train the caregivers or practitioners to facilitate appropriate learning through play activities for the children with the LEGO bricks.
WHEN
2024
WHERE
Denmark, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, South Africa and Syria
PARTNERS
Care for Education, Child Fund, Danish Red Cross, Care for Education, Education for Sharing, ECD Pact, Government of Jalisco, Hope Worldwide, IOM, ORT, Save the Children, Teach for Mexico, Teleton, UNICEF, Universum, Un Kilo de Ayuda, Zero to Five
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LEGO PLAY BOXES
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LCE HERO SHORT
The voices of Greenlandic children
A GENERATION IN FOCUS MARKS THE LEGO FOUNDATION’S FIRST GRANT TO SUPPORT CHILDREN IN GREENLAND. IT WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, GIVING A VOICE TO MORE THAN 4.000 SCHOOLCHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, GIVING THEM A PLATFORM TO BE HEARD.
– Led by MIO - The National Advocacy Center for Children’s Rights, the project embodies our belief that children are our role models. It will fill a vital knowledge gap, ensuring that children from all walks of life – including those who are often overlooked, such as children with special needs and those from remote settlements – have the opportunity to share their stories and perspectives.
WHEN 2024WHERE Greenland GRANT
DKK 11 million PARTNERS MIO
Standout moments from 2024
Every year brings new challenges, but also celebrations.
Here are some examples of what made our 2024 special:
The first ever International Day of Play!
June 11th is now officially the International Day of Play, recognised by the United Nations General Assembly, bringing play back to the forefront for two billion children worldwide!
This day will celebrate every child’s fundamental right to play, ensuring it is protected, respected, and made a priority, so children can thrive and unlock their full potential.
For the first time, this year partners across the world celebrated the importance of play with us and our colleagues in Ukraine made an extra effort, hosting their annual Playfest on June 11th, inspiring children to build their dreams for the future.
More than 300 educational institutions in Ukraine took part in the Playfest.
Playfest activities took place in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova and Poland.
The LEGO Group and the LEGO Foundation, in partnership with ADEA, Arup, BRAC, Change X, The Concerned for Working Children, Eurochild, Hasbro, INGKA, International Play Association, IRC, KidZania, Mattel, Nike Inc., PEDAL, Plan International, Right
To Play International, Save the Children and Sesame Workshop, successfully called on the UN to establish an International Day of Play to champion and protect children’s right to play.
The International Day of Play is every year on June 11th
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IDOP WRAP UP
Making a difference for children in crisis contexts
2024 also had its share of challenges, impacting children and families across the world. To ensure we can act swiftly and effectively when a crisis strikes, we’ve established the Acute Humanitarian Response Mechanism in partnership with Save the Children and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
In 2024, we responded to urgent situations in…
What factors help us decide if we should respond to a crisis?
SAFETY AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:
For example, if it is not safe for children to go to school, or if schools are damaged or not safe for children.
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY:
The mechanism is used when the partners are able to support children’s well-being though learning through play approaches.
Shaping the future of digital play for children’s well-being
In 2024, a close collaboration between the LEGO Foundation and the LEGO Group culminated in the launch of a Design Toolbox – resources free to use for digital designers, game developers, and other professionals developing digital experiences for children.
The overarching programme, RITEC - short for Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children’s Development and Well-being - is all about creating a framework for how the digital play industry can design with children’s well-being at the heart of every decision. It also aims to bring together research showing that digital play can in fact help children thrive.
Check out the RITEC Toolbox
RITEC is a collaboration between the
the
and
The goal was to work with children worldwide to create a framework that defines subjective wellbeing, maps how children’s digital experiences impact their well-being, and to offer guidance on how informed design choices can foster positive outcomes, shaping digital spaces for children in a better way.
LEGO Foundation,
LEGO Group
UNICEF.
Making a lasting impact
Children can learn through play no matter where in the world they are.
With the support of our partners, we brought learning through play to millions of children, caregivers and teachers in classrooms, homes and communities in different parts of the world.
This year’s stories show how some of our partnerships are making a difference in children’s lives:
PLAY@HEART
Play has revolutionised Anne Marie’s teaching
HOPE WORLDWIDE SOUTH AFRICA
Nurturing future generations: How play-based learning is empowering caregivers
INVEST IN PLAY
Strengthening family bonds through play
KIDOGO SCALE UP
Transforming early childhood education in Kenya
CHILD FUND MEXICO Levelling up on parenting support in Mexico
SAVE THE CHILDREN BHUTAN A Big Win for Playful Parenting in Bhutan
PLAY & HEAL
Processing traumatic events through play
Play has revolutionised Anne Marie’s teaching
DKK 56,5 million
Play@Heart
Lyngholmskolen in Furesø Municipality in Denmark, has been part of our Play@Heart grant, focusing on integrating play and technology into teaching. Anne Marie Tidemand, a teacher at the school explains that play has rekindled her passion for teaching.
By using play-based learning, she has transformed her approach, making lessons in maths, English, and science more engaging and meaningful for her students.
Being part of this project has allowed Anne Marie and her colleagues to experiment with playful methods. She says: “When I incorporate playful elements into my teaching, it gives students the opportunity to better understand academic topics.” Anne Marie explains how she, for example, has set up a “baking competition” in maths, where the students make cakes out of cardboard. The students would investigate what the measurements of the cardboard pieces should be to fit together and calculate the circumference if they wanted to make a perfectly round cake.
It has also shifted the school’s culture, encouraging more creative, playful approaches to both teaching and professional development.
The Director of Education for the municipality, Per Christensen, measures success by the “sparkle in the eyes” of both children and teachers’. “Do the children have that sparkle in their eyes –the motivation to learn? And is there a spark of enthusiasm in the teachers as well? Here, the answer is yes.”
The municipality now aims to spread this innovative, playful approach across all schools in their municipality, making education more engaging for all children in the area.
“If I could be in the school’s play space every day, I would want to go to school for the rest of my life.”
STUDENT, 7 YEARS OLD,
About Play@Heart
Play@Heart is a school development project focused on playful approaches to technology literacy.
The goal is to equip schools to strengthen children’s creative and experimental approach to the world.
The project explores the interaction between children’s play with digital technologies and their development and learning.
12 schools from across Denmark – two from each University College catchment area –have participated in the project.
Nurturing future generations: How play-based learning is empowering caregivers
GRANT
DKK 35,9 million
PARTNER
Hope Worldwide South Africa
Hope Worldwide South Africa’s Caregiver Learning
Through Play programme has positively impacted hundreds of thousands of parents and caregivers in disadvantaged communities, empowering them to nurture, educate, and engage their children at home using play as a foundation for learning.
Through dynamic, face-to-face group sessions, play facilitators have equipped parents, caregivers, and early childhood practitioners with the tools to integrate play-based learning into everyday activities.
Caregiver Learning Through Play is the largest group-based parenting support programme ever launched in South Africa. Evaluations show that caregivers feel more confident and have a deeper understanding of how to facilitate learning through play at home. The programme has significantly boosted caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices around nurturing care and play-based learning, while also improving their self-esteem and happiness, and helping to reduce stress levels.
HOPE WORLDWIDE SOUTH AFRICA
Strengthening family bonds through play
GRANT
DKK 20,2 million
PARTNER
invest in play
invest in play supports caregivers and parents with neurodiverse children to thrive in life by using compassionate and culturally sensitive playbased strategies. Their 12-session programme strengthens the parent-child relationship. For example, just 10 minutes of daily play can build stronger bonds and support social and emotional growth in neurodiverse children. Parents have reported transformative changes in their children’s behaviour and academic performance through invest in play’s strategies.
“invest in play has helped us see a 90% reduction in conflicts with our child.”
SYNNE, PARENT
“Before invest in play, we struggled with our child’s behaviour. Now, we see incredible improvements in his actions and school performance.”
MAGNUS, PARENT
“Parenting stress has significantly decreased since starting the programme.”
ANONYMOUS
Transforming early childhood education in Kenya
GRANT
DKK 7,1 million
PARTNER
Kidogo Scale Up
Kidogo uses a social franchising model that makes quality, affordable early childhood care and education accessible to families in low-income communities across Kenya. The goal? To give children aged five and under a fun, nutritious start to life during their crucial early years – when 90% of brain development happens.
With continued support from the LEGO Foundation and other funders, e.g. Hilton
Foundation, Kidogo has become the largest childcare network in Kenya, making a difference in the lives of young children across the country.
Caring for children and supporting mothers
With training and mentorship from Kidogo, Hellen has built a daycare that helps children grow and thrive, while offering working mothers a reliable support system.
Moline, a single mother, depends on Hellen’s childcare centre to care for her twin infants while she works.
“As a single mother, managing everything alone is challenging, but knowing my children are well cared for eases my worries and allows me to work to support my family. I feel confident that they are in a safe, nurturing environment.”
— MOLINE, MOTHER
Children on track:
92% of children aged 0-5 in Kidogo centres meet or exceed age-appropriate developmental milestones, compared to the national figure where 40% of Kenyan 3- and 4-year-olds are not developmentally on track.
Through Hellen’s daycare, both women are creating better opportunities for the twins’ futures, ensuring they receive the care, nourishment, and stimulation they need to thrive.
“I hope the children in my daycare continue to excel and achieve great things,” says Hellen.
KIDOGO
“One of the things we learned was how to play and that children need space when they play. Another thing we learned was about children’s emotions... there are times when they feel bad or sad and we have to talk to them, and understand how they feel.”
— JOSEFINA, MOTHER
Levelling up on parenting support in Mexico
GRANT
DKK 3,5 million
PARTNER
Child Fund Mexico
Our support for Child Fund Mexico has helped promote inclusive, playful parenting practices for young children, with a focus on indigenous communities. By sharing practical advice in Spanish and indigenous languages through media channels, the project has reached 23 indigenous radio stations, two TV channels, and five national networks. Collaborating with local and federal governments, the initiative also drives community-based interventions across 10 states, reaching 300 communities.
CHILD FUND MEXICO
A big win for families in Bhutan
GRANT
DKK 23,6 million
PARTNER
Save the Children Bhutan
Playful parenting builds stronger bonds, supports healthy brain development, and helps young children thrive. Playful parenting programmes equip families with simple, joyful ways to nurture their children’s holistic development – laying a foundation for lifelong learning and thriving.
A great success story has emerged from Bhutan, where the Bhutanese government issued an executive order in 2024 that officially makes playful parenting support accessible to families
with young children at all health facilities across the country.
This follows our four-year grant to Save the Children Bhutan, who have worked with the government and other partners to scale-up their playful parenting programme across the country.
The scaling journey was supported with implementation research from FHI360, which helped to drive evidence-informed adaptations to the programme. These adaptations strengthened its delivery, made it more accessible for sustainable growth, and increased its impact for children and families, which will now be maintained at scale.
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BHUTAN
SAVE THE CHILDREN BHUTAN
Processing traumatic events through play
GRANT
DKK 13,6 million
PARTNER
UNICEF Play & Heal
The Play & Heal programme was launched in response to the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, Syria in 2023, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, aiming to support the most vulnerable children.
By integrating playful activities and LEGO® Play Boxes into UNICEF’s ongoing programmes like emergency response, education, early childhood development and child protection, the initiative is using play to promote healing, mental health, and social-emotional well-being. Through facilitated sessions, it targets key mental health and social-emotional learning outcomes, helping
children process traumatic events and regain a sense of security and confidence.
Evaluation has showed that the programme fosters creativity and collaboration, with children expressing happiness, calmness, and pride while playing. It also enhanced problem-solving skills, teamwork, and communication.
Importantly, it demonstrated that children who received appropriate care after crises were more likely to recover and successfully cope, build back bonds, and resume learning.
“I like playing with LEGO and building houses. I’ve never lived in a house, but always in a tent. When I play with LEGO I feel like I have a home.”
— CHILD
PARTICIPATING IN LEARNING THROUGH PLAY SESSIONS
UNICEF PLAY & HEAL