Jinan (not her real name) had been teaching in Azraq refugee camp in Jordan for seven years when she first encountered Seenaryo through a Playkit training in 2022. The training, which was commissioned by World Vision, marked a turning point in her teaching.

I felt like a child again. I was experiencing a childhood I never had.

Growing up in Syria, school had been strict. Teachers sat behind desks and there was no space for play. Jinan had always dreamt of becoming a teacher, but she wanted to teach in a different way.

Today, her classroom is a vibrant, buzzing space – her class is the Bee class and bee decorations line the walls. With the Playkit, songs, stories and games also fill the classroom. “I use it every day,” she says.

Children arriving in Azraq often struggle to express themselves. Jinan uses the Playkit song Can You Make a Happy Face? to help them identify their feelings. “After a few times singing the song, they start coming to me to express their emotions,” she says. One child, who used to remain silent, came to her and told her they were sad because they hadn’t had breakfast – something she was then able to address.

The Playkit changed not only her teaching, but also her parenting. She has become more patient and open-minded. She now gives her children time and space to open up. “I never used to be like this,” she adds. 

Jinan sees the impact of play every day. When she tries teaching with a paper and pen, the children struggle to remember. But when she brings songs, games and stories into the class, they learn.