About
Thousands of Afghan families have been relocated to the UK since 2021. Many slept in motels or other temporary housing for extended periods of time, with no access to structured play or schooling.
In Summer 2024, around 140 children between the ages of 3-12 participated in a 12-week playful learning program offered by Cities for Children at a hotel in West Sussex. Our sessions provided a space for learning, fun and connection.
Sessions were run twice a week and were designed to support:
- Positive mental health and wellbeing
- Learning English and basic skills
- Social and emotional development
Learning and Impact
Emotional Wellbeing: Children felt happier, safer, and more connected after our sessions. Many arrived nervous or reclusive but gradually gained confidence. Children were allowed to creatively express their emotions through activities such as bubbles, superhero capes and emotion monsters. Children expressed that attendance made them feel happier and more helpful through reflection exercises like body mapping. Even individuals who had trouble speaking English could demonstrate how the sessions made them feel more comfortable.
Direct learning: Many kids were eager to study even though they had been out of school for months. Each week’s theme (for example, birthdays, environment or occupations) helped kids improve their vocabulary, early literacy and numeracy skills. Since many Afghans didn’t celebrate birthdays, it was a significant cultural exchange. They also participated in group storytelling, made finger puppets, and labelled body parts in English. Those who began with limited English knowledge gained confidence in speaking, listening and asking questions in the language.
Social and Emotional Development: Many of the children had experienced trauma, separation and displacement. Our sessions facilitated fundamental social and emotional learning objectives like:
- Identifying and labelling feelings
- Putting regulation tactics into practice
- Teamwork, taking turns and listening
- Developing self-worth and problem-solving abilities
The groups practiced teamwork while learning about British sites by building spaghetti and marshmallow towers. Others expressed their thoughts with tapestries, capes and monsters, which were proudly displayed across the hotel.
