— Play Learn Thrive’s first funding call seeks solutions to strengthen children’s development and education in crisis settings, focusing on unserved and underserved children and caregivers—
Toronto, Canada, January 21, 2025 — Grand Challenges Canada, with funding from the LEGO Foundation, is excited to announce the launch of the first Request for Proposals (RFP) for Play Learn Thrive, a new GCC portfolio focused on supporting early childhood development and education in crisis settings.
This new portfolio aims to create strong support systems for children in complex crisis settings so that they can play, learn, and thrive. This initiative builds on Grand Challenges Canada’s expertise in fostering innovation in early childhood development (Saving Brains) and humanitarian contexts (Creating Hope in Conflict: A Humanitarian Grand Challenge).
The first Play Learn Thrive funding call is dedicated to creating strong support systems for children aged 0–12 years in Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon, and Jordan.
The Request for Proposals opens on January 21, 2025, and offers grants in two categories:
- Proof of Concept (POC): Up to $250,000 CAD per project over 24 months to test bold new ideas. Applications close on April 24, 2025, at 2 PM ET.
- Transition to Scale (TTS): Grants ranging from $300,000 to $1,500,000 CAD over 24 months to scale proven innovations. Applications for TTS grants will be accepted on a rolling basis between January 21, 2025, and November 27, 2025.
The first application deadline is on April 24th, 2025, at 2 pm ET. Subsequent TTS application deadlines throughout the year will be posted on the Grand Challenges Canada website and in the Request for Proposals FAQ.
Through this request for proposals, Grand Challenges Canada expects to fund nine (9) Proof of Concept projects and seven (7) Transition to Scale projects.
“Play Learn Thrive represents a significant effort to address critical gaps in early childhood development and education for children living in crisis-affected areas. With the support of the LEGO Foundation, we aim to create meaningful, lasting change for children and their communities,” said Dr. Fawad Akbari, Senior Director, Humanitarian Innovation and Program Optimization, Grand Challenges Canada.
“We know that play can help children in crisis situations thrive and this helps to lay the foundations for them to be creative, engaged, lifelong learners. Through our support for Grand Challenges Canada’s Play, Learn Thrive Funding Call, we hope to contribute to improving the ability of children in emergencies to access high-quality non-formal and informal educational opportunities and therefore experience the benefits of learning through play. We anticipate projects that support a range of children’s outcomes in emergencies, such as their social-emotional well-being, holistic and foundational skills, as well as their agency,” said Paul St john Frisoli, Team Lead of ‘Children on the Move’ at the LEGO Foundation
Eligible organizations must be not-for-profit, legally incorporated, registered to do business in at least one of the four priority countries (Kenya, Uganda, Jordan, or Lebanon), directly implementing the project in the country, and maintaining an active presence in at least one of the four countries. Proposals should focus on strengthening children’s development and/or education or enhancing the capacities of their support networks, including educators, caregivers, and more.
To apply for funding, applicants MUST use the online application form provided, which is ONLY accessible via Grand Challenges Canada’s Fluxx Portal. Existing users should log in to their existing account and new users must register for an account on the main application portal. To learn more and apply, visit grandchallenges.ca/funding-opportunities
Questions regarding this Request for Proposals can be submitted via email to by April 15th, 2025.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Aziz Froutan
Bilingual Manager, Media Relations and Communications
+1(437)-228-3166
About The LEGO Foundation:
The LEGO Foundation aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow; a mission that it shares with the LEGO Group. The LEGO Foundation is dedicated to building a future where learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners. Its work is about re-defining play and re-imagining learning. In collaboration with its partners the LEGO Foundation aims to equip, inspire and activate champions for play.
www.learningthroughplay.com
About Grand Challenges Canada:
Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact®. With support from the Government of Canada and other partners, GCC has invested in more than 1,700 innovations in over 100 countries. Since 2010, GCC-supported innovations have reached more than 80 million people with lifesaving and life-improving initiatives who would not otherwise have had access. Visit www.grandchallenges.ca to learn more.