DURING A SCHOOL VISIT IN MONROVIA, PRIME MINISTER GETS IN THE GAME TO LEARN FIRSTHAND HOW CANADA-FUNDED PLAY IS TRANSFORMING QUALITY EDUCATION
MONROVIA, Liberia, Nov. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - During his first official visit to Africa, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a break from official government duties to join a group of 11- and 12-year-old students at Monrovia's Slip Way Public School. The Prime Minister visited the school to see the progress made through the "Play for the Advancement of Quality Education" (PAQE) program —a two-year play-based learning program funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada. PAQE, implemented in partnership with Canadian-based not-for-profit, Right To Play, aims to improve children's access to quality education, with particular focus on girls.
Joined by Right To Play International CEO, Kevin Frey, Canadian Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, Patricia McCullagh, and long-time Right To Play Athlete Ambassador, Olympian Adam van Koeverden, the Prime Minister joined students in a mathematical game designed to teach children the concept of "sets".
Prime Minister Trudeau said he was inspired by what he saw. "It's great to see the kind of energy and action you put into your learning. It's so important that you engage and that you be active participants in what you're learning, and Right To Play is showing you that learning is fun and it's about empowerment and energy. Go out and get that knowledge."
Implemented in 40 schools across Liberia, including Slip Way, PAQE reaches more than half of the 21,000 children and youth engaged in Right To Play programs in Liberia. Through PAQE, Right To Play provides ongoing training and support to 278 teachers and community coaches, who conduct play-based educational programs in both formal school and informal community educational environments.
Right To Play CEO, Kevin Frey said, "We are so proud of our work in Liberia and it is a true honour to have Prime Minister Trudeau here to witness the powerful impact that play can have in quality education. Our relationship with the Government of Canada represents more than 10 years of creating positive impact in children's lives through play. I look forward to an ongoing productive relationship to unlock the power and possibility in every child through play."
Watch Prime Minister Trudeau's visit to Slip Way Public School in Monrovia on Right To Play Canada's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RightToPlayCan
For more information, follow @RightToPlayCAN and visit www.righttoplay.ca
About Right To Play
Right To Play is a global organization committed to improving the lives of children and youth affected by conflict, disease and poverty. Established in 2000, Right To Play has pioneered a unique play-based approach to learning and development which focuses on quality education, life skills, health, gender equality, child protection and building peaceful communities. With programming in over 20 countries, Right To Play transforms the lives of more than one million children each week, both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to our work with children, Right To Play advocates with parents, local communities, and governments to advance the fundamental rights of all children.
Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Our programs are facilitated by more than 600 international staff and 14,900 local volunteer Coaches. Programming in Canada includes the enhancement of education in priority schools and the Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) program, which is partnered with 57 First Nations communities and urban Aboriginal organizations across Ontario and Manitoba.
SOURCE Right to Play
Image with caption: "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a break from official government duties to join a group of 11- and 12-year-old students at Monrovia’s Slip Way Public School. The Prime Minister visited the school to see the progress made through the “Play for the Advancement of Quality Education” (PAQE) program —a two-year play-based learning program funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada. The PAQE, implemented in partnership with Canadian-based not-for-profit, Right To Play aims to improve children’s access to quality education, with particular focus on girls. (CNW Group/Right to Play)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161124_C2681_PHOTO_EN_825807.jpg
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2016/11/24/20161124_C2681_PDF_EN_825815.pdf
Kyla Pearson (in Liberia), Communications Manager, Right To Play Canada, [email protected]; Sheena McDonald, [email protected], +1 416.203.0190 x.302, www.righttoplay.ca
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