We created Jifunze Play to address disrupted education, learning poverty, displacement, and psychosocial distress affecting children aged 5–14 in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya. Many children face overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, limited learning resources, and few opportunities for creative learning. These challenges affect foundational literacy, numeracy, science, confidence, and emotional well-being.
We recognized that traditional teaching approaches alone cannot meet the diverse needs of children growing up in humanitarian crises. Jifunze Play combines Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and play-based learning to make education more personalized, engaging, inclusive, and supportive.
Through AI-powered learning, children strengthen foundational skills at their own pace, while VR and immersive storytelling encourage exploration, creativity, emotional expression, and psychosocial well-being. Structured play makes children active participants in learning, while teachers, parents, and caregivers gain the skills and digital tools to support children's progress.
Developed by CDI Network CLG with funding from Grand Challenges Canada and the LEGO Foundation, Jifunze Play aims to demonstrate a scalable, community-driven model that helps refugee children improve learning outcomes, build resilience, regain confidence, and thrive despite the challenges of displacement.
Jifunze Play operates through schools and community learning centres in Dadaab, where children aged 5–14 access AI-powered learning, virtual reality (VR), and structured play. Using tablets and mobile devices, children engage with an AI mathematics chatbot that adapts learning to their pace and provides feedback. Teachers and caregivers use digital dashboards to monitor progress and identify learning gaps.
Portable VR headsets and shared projector displays enable supervised immersive learning and storytelling sessions. Children explore educational environments and participate in creative activities that support emotional expression, confidence, and psychosocial well-being. A bespoke VR solution will also be developed around community needs.
CDI trains 100 teachers, parents, and caregivers in AI, VR, digital literacy, trauma-informed teaching, and play facilitation. Over 24 months, the innovation will reach 500 children and 100 adults, using participation records, learning assessments, and well-being tools to track progress and strengthen community ownership.
Jifunze Play is spreading through a phased, community-centred approach led by CDI Network CLG in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya. The innovation is being introduced through schools and community learning centres, engaging children, teachers, parents, and caregivers.
CDI implements an AI-powered mathematics chatbot that personalizes learning and helps educators monitor progress. Supervised VR experiences, immersive storytelling, and structured play complement classroom learning while supporting creativity and psychosocial well-being.
Community engagement, demonstrations, and practical training help educators and caregivers adopt these technologies responsibly. They develop skills in AI, VR, digital literacy, trauma-informed teaching, and play facilitation to support children's learning and well-being.
Over 24 months, Jifunze Play aims to reach 500 children and 100 caregivers and educators. Learning assessments, platform usage data, and participant feedback will guide improvements and document results. Evidence and lessons from the proof of concept will inform potential expansion to additional schools, community learning centres, and other refugee settings, creating a sustainable and replicable model for inclusive education in humanitarian contexts.
Jifunze Play has evolved to strengthen the integration of AI, VR, and play-based learning in response to community needs and implementation lessons. The AI component now focuses on using Rori to personalize mathematics learning and provide educators and caregivers with insights into children's progress. For VR, we are prioritizing supervised, immersive learning and mental health modules, alongside storytelling experiences that encourage creativity, emotional expression, and resilience.
We have also expanded the delivery model to include shared projector displays, practical training for educators and caregivers, and community-based learning sessions to improve access where individual headsets, connectivity, and digital skills are limited. Feedback from schools and caregivers is informing the design of locally relevant content and safeguarding measures.
These adaptations aim to make Jifunze Play more accessible, context-sensitive, sustainable, and responsive to children's educational and psychosocial needs.
To experience Jifunze Play, schools, educators, humanitarian organizations, and community partners can contact CDI Network CLG to explore collaboration or arrange a demonstration. Children participate through supported school and community learning sessions, where they use AI-powered mathematics learning tools, supervised VR experiences, and structured play activities. Educators and caregivers receive guidance on using the technologies safely and supporting children's learning and well-being. Organizations interested in piloting or scaling the innovation can engage CDI to discuss partnership opportunities, implementation requirements, and access to the programme as it develops in Garissa county.
