Dressed in a bright blue tracksuit, Hamadoun stands out against a stretch of red soil in Mopti, Mali. He explains the rules of a three-legged race to the twenty children eagerly paired up before him. He then moves between the groups of two, carefully tying one child’s right leg to their partner’s left with a long strip of ribbon.

When the race begins, the children stagger across the field, laughing as they try to stay in sync. The game, Walk on Three Legs, sparks joy while teaching children about the importance of cooperation.

A game about working together feels especially meaningful as conflict rages in parts of Mali. More than 390,000 people are internally displaced, and 1.6 million children are in urgent need of protection from violence and exploitation.

Many of the children in Hamadoun's care have lived through terror. They fled their homes and witnessed their family members killed, their teachers threatened, their schools attacked. “The challenges that the children faced are stress and trauma,” says Hamadoun. “They didn't want to have fun together. They were each on their own.”

Witnessing extreme violence can harm children's emotional well-being into adulthood. But having a safe space to play, share their feelings, get support from Hamadoun, and rebuild trust has been a crucial part of their recovery.

The children, once distant and withdrawn, now burst across the finish line in tangled pairs, uttering triumphant squeals. And for a moment, thoughts of war seem a little further away.

THE HEALING POWER OF PLAY

Walk on Three Legs is just one of many activities the children play with Hamadoun. Hamadoun is part of a team of 80 Right To Play-trained coaches with the EMPOWER project, funded by the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada. Children aged six to 12 in the conflict-stricken Gao and Mopti regions of Mali are getting support to improve their literacy and life skills through play-based learning thanks to the project.

Conflict has severely disrupted education in Mali. About 1,700 schools have closed. Insecurity, poverty, child labour, and forced marriage are all factors that have driven more than two million children out of school. As a result, two-thirds of Grade 2 students and nearly 90% of Grade 5 students have not mastered basic reading and writing skills.

More than 37,000 conflict-affected children have better access to quality education through EMPOWER. But Hamadoun knows that trauma also disrupts a child’s ability to learn and grow. Supporting children’s emotional healing and life skills development is an important piece of the puzzle – and his focus as a coach.

Hamadoun understands the stress the children experience while living in displacement because he carries it too. When Hamadoun was 28, armed guards came to his home in the early morning and forced him to leave his village. With his family, he journeyed for days, travelling by cart and motorbike to reach Mopti.

Hamadoun found his escape by staying active, passing anxious hours by kicking a ball around with children in his neighbourhood. What he didn’t realize then was that play is an important part of psychosocial well-being and development.

“We knew that play could strengthen a person's physique,” says Hamadoun. “But that it could enhance development and intellectual capacity, or that play could reduce stress? It is through Right To Play’s training that we have discovered this.”

Because cognitive ability develops ahead of language, children often express emotions through indirect communication, such as play. Play also protects children from the psychological effects of trauma and grief while supporting their emotional, social, and cognitive development – even in the toughest conditions.

When Hamadoun saw the children begin to open up to one another during his play-based sessions and express a sense of belonging, more of the puzzle pieces came together.

“Through Right To Play's psychosocial support games, children collaborate, communicate, and play together,” he says. “This support has helped them a great deal, as their stress has also been greatly reduced.”

CHANNELLING RESILIENCE AND BUILDING LIFE SKILLS

Twice a week, after school hours, Hamadoun leads psychosocial support sessions in a safe and easily accessible public space.

Each session begins with a discussion on a topic like teamwork, stress management, or self-confidence. The children warm up with stretches, play games that reinforce the day’s lesson, and finish with a cool-down and reflection on how to apply what they’ve learned to their daily lives.

One of their favourite games is Guess the Shape. In the game, pairs of children create geometric shapes using rope and cloth, and the other children race to name the shape first. The children thrive on friendly competition, and Hamadoun delights in watching their knowledge and confidence grow with each correct guess. “What I like about being a coach with Right To Play is that you're always in contact with the children,” he says. “You put the children in a positive frame of mind.”

The children find moments of relief and joy when they play. But they aren’t just having fun; they are cheering each other on and learning to communicate, problem solve, and trust – all-important socio-emotional skills.

“Because of the psychosocial support games, the children are learning to manage emotions and resolve interpersonal conflicts,” says Hamadoun. “They are also having fewer nightmares, and I see there is a reduction in anxiety and depression.”

“In Mopti, there are no dedicated services available that support children to develop their life skills and heal from the trauma of displacement,” explains Hassana Dara, Communications Coordinator at Right To Play Mali. Without this vital support, many children would be left to cope alone.

A SPIRIT OF INCLUSION

Feelings of isolation that many children experience while living in displacement can weigh especially heavily on children living with disabilities. Training from Right To Play showed Hamadoun how to respond to inclusion challenges and ensure all children, especially children with disabilities, can participate equally in the activities that help them heal and grow.

“There was a child with a disability who didn’t take part in our games, and the other children didn’t want to play with him either,” explains Hamadoun. “But through this game, we showed the children that everyone is equal and that there is no difference between individuals. Now he is accepted by the other children, and they all play together.”

Just like in Walk on Three Legs, children are learning that they can go further when they lean on each other for support.

“It was through play that the children began to work together and love each other,” says Hamadoun. “Through Right To Play, we've created a spirit of cohesion and community.”

The EMPOWER project is made possible with the support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.