Challenge (Before)
A 7-year-old boy was the oldest child in a busy refugee family. At home, there was always noise — his little brother was two, his baby sister had just turned one, and someone always seemed to be crying, laughing, or needing attention. As the oldest, he often felt overlooked.
At the beginning of the project, he often looked gloomy and distant. He didn’t show interest in activities, avoided group games, and frequently said he was bored. It was easier for him to push others away than to try something new.
Intervention (Action)
A DPIA staff member helped the family sign up for the Play, Learn & Thrive Project. The mother has very limited English skills, so she needed support to commit to attending activities. She receives bilingual Modern Arabic/English messages and has been able to take part in a variety of events: Movie Mornings, walks, Family Saturdays at the National Museum, Railway Garden events, Soft Play sessions, Coding sessions, and Cooking sessions.
Results (After)
One day, he joined a board game with other children his age. “Super Farmer” is a game where players grow farm animals together and trade them. At first, he watched quietly. Then another boy explained the game to him, and he started making moves. Soon, he was laughing, discussing the rules and inventing a unique strategy focused on rabbits. Something had clicked.
After that, he became especially excited about coding sessions. He loves creating simple games and animations, watching his ideas come to life on the screen. He raises his hand to ask questions and proudly shows his projects to the group and to his mum.
To everyone’s surprise, he also began enjoying crafts. Cutting, gluing, building gives him a new way to express himself. His once-restless energy turned into focus and creativity. The boy who once seemed distant and angry is now discovering his interests, building friendships, and believing in himself.
