Friend,

Nearly 60 percent of the patients Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) cares for are children. In times of crisis—whether from disease, natural disasters, or the trauma of fleeing conflict—children are often the most vulnerable. Humanitarian aid rightly focuses on food, shelter, and medical care, but there is another essential need that is often overlooked: Play. 

To promote play as an integral part of our work, MSF has developed a Play Therapy Toolkit. Its goal is to help MSF teams make playtime a key part of the care we offer to children, especially those under five years old. This includes tips for creating child-friendly spaces, guidance on choosing activities to suit children’s developmental stages, and how to make toys from items at hand, such as plastic syringes and surgical gloves. 

Play is not a luxury—it is a lifeline. It is how children discover the world, learning to develop essential skills in physical, cognitive, language, and emotional growth. Play benefits everyone involved—children, adults, and those who facilitate or observe it.

With your generous support, MSF can continue to ensure that children caught in the midst of emergencies not only survive, but also have the chance to heal, grow, and be children again. Donate to fund our lifesaving work providing care to children and all our patients.

Oftentimes, our young patients are seriously ill or have complex injuries. They are also in a strange environment, separated from their wider families and the familiar things that bring them comfort. Play can help children process complex feelings of fear, grief, and uncertainty. It helps regulate stress hormones like cortisol, reducing pain and anxiety. This not only relieves suffering during medical procedures, but also means children recover faster. 

Your support helps MSF care for the youngest and most vulnerable patients we work with, day in and day out. Make a donation today to provide hope and healing to patients worldwide. 

With gratitude,

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières USA