Sesame Workshop International South Africa has secured FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund support, expanding playful learning and soccer opportunities to benefit more than 800 children.
Sesame Workshop International South Africa has received a grant from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, enabling the organisation to expand its Bond Through Play Initiative and bring play-based learning and soccer to more than 800 children in underserved communities.
The initiative builds on Sesame Workshop’s established Play to Learn methodology by combining playful learning, educator support, caregiver engagement and educational media to improve school readiness and positive developmental outcomes for young children.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Through this generous grant, we will expand our successful Bond Through Play Initiative, building on our established Play to Learn methodology, to combine playful learning, educator support, caregiver engagement and educational media, to improve school readiness and positive developmental outcomes for children in underserved communities,” said Mari Payne, Deputy Managing Director and Senior Director: Education and Programs at Sesame Workshop International South Africa.
The programme closely aligns with the priorities of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which uses sport and soccer to strengthen education in underserved communities through inclusive, community-driven learning.
“Our programme does not position sports competitively, but as a developmental learning tool that helps children learn through structured play, movement and social interaction,” Payne added.
The Bond Through Play Initiative has already demonstrated significant impact. During 2024, an award-winning digital campaign generated 1.94 million YouTube video views and 16.4 million impressions, encouraging fathers and male caregivers to become more actively involved in their children’s learning and development. The campaign later received international recognition through a People’s Voice Webby Award in 2025, alongside a Bookmark Award for its influencer campaign.
In 2026, the initiative expanded beyond digital engagement into community-based sporting activities. Soccer activations and family sports challenges directly involved 62 parents and caregivers, 45 children and more than 50 soccer players, creating opportunities for families to strengthen relationships through play while promoting positive parenting, teamwork and healthy lifestyles.
Thabo Shange, Impact Program Manager at Sesame Workshop International South Africa, said the next phase of the programme will broaden its reach even further.
“We’re energised by the opportunity to bring this next chapter to life. It will place a deliberate focus on increasing the participation of young girls, championing inclusive play, and ensuring children with disabilities and diverse learning needs can learn, play and thrive alongside their peers,” he said.
The latest Bond Through Play Initiative is scheduled to launch during the fourth quarter of 2026. It will feature Takalani Sesame content and characters alongside play-based teacher training, parent and caregiver workshops, Community Play Festivals and social-emotional learning activities.
The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund was launched by FIFA and Global Citizen with the ambition of mobilising USD $100 million to improve children’s access to quality education through the power of sport. The fund has already raised more than USD $30 million from philanthropies, corporations, major brands, individual donors and proceeds generated through major sporting and entertainment events.
