From the 17th to the 19th of August 2022, National Media Editors in Dar es salaam and Journalists in Kigoma were hosted by the PlayMatters team for a media engagement seminar. The PlayMatters team in Tanzania represented by the International Rescue Committee and Plan International organized and conducted media sessions with an objective of raising awareness on play-based education and how inclusive Learning through Play methodologies in the classroom can build holistic skills and provide a more hopeful future for children in refugee contexts.

PlayMatters seeks to improve the "chalk and talk" teaching methods with active, play-based, learner centred methods in the classroom, and so, amplifying this messaging and gaining coverage of key project successes will be fostered by collaboration with local media most common to the areas where we are working. 

The session in Dar es salaam with national media editors was attended by six (6) editors from Azam TV, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), TSN-Daily News, Mwananchi Newspaper, AYO TV, and Upendo Media. Speaking at the session, Mr. Ben Mwangoda, an assistant editor from AZAM TV said "I’m very excited to be part of this media seminar, it has been a good platform to understand about the PlayMatters project, now that we are aware of it, it will be easy for us to collaborate with you to ensure your activities are well documented and disseminated on our media platforms.’’

The session in Kigoma was attended by sixteen (16) journalists from ITV, Channel Ten, Star TV, the Guardian Newspaper, AZAM TV, Mwananchi Newspaper, TBC, AYO TV, Clouds Media Group, Radio Joy and Radio Kwizera. In Kigoma region, PlayMatters is working in Nyarugusu refugee camp, Kasulu and Nduta refugee camp, Kibondo. Strengthening partnerships with media houses that are covering local contexts in the respective local languages where we are working and delivering key program activities will facilitate amplification of the project during its rollout. 

"Journalists are key stakeholders to ensure the PlayMatters project is well known in the communities. We are always available to ensure we support project activities and ensure we share with the public the importance of Learning through Play approaches and the to learners," said Mr. Deogratius Nsokolo, the Chairperson of the Kigoma Press Club.

As part of our long-term advocacy goals, our consortium country and field teams will continue working with media houses and seeking opportunities to amplify thought messaging around play-based learning through similar trainings and approaches in Tanzania.

Read more about PlayMatters in Tanzania here.