ABSTRACT
Over 2.5 million Venezuelans are currently living in Colombia. Despite largely supportive immigration policies and service provisions from the Colombian government, many Venezuelan migrant families remain vulnerable and lack access to consistent high-quality services for their young children. The COVID-19 pandemic compounded these needs. To address this gap, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), in collaboration with government early childhood policy actors and local Colombian organizations, developed a play-based program to support young children on the move. Play to Dream (Jugar para Soñar in Spanish) incorporates play as a critical way to support children, caregivers, and teachers in crisis circumstances. To support children along the migration journey, Jugar para Soñar sets up play and learning spaces along popular transit routes in four regions of Colombia and provides backpacks with play materials that children can take with them as they move. The program also developed a training and technical assistance plan for 406 early childhood teachers on topics of play, emergency response, and migration. This chapter shares lessons from Jugar para Soñar program design and implementation, as well as recommendations for other programs for young children on the move and those facing multiple humanitarian risks.
