What began as a simple idea born out of compassion and a shared belief in the healing power of play for children in an overcrowded refugee camp has blossomed into a global initiative, touching the lives of thousands of children worldwide.
Read about CPI’s “Origin” story here.
CPI’s storytelling program helps displaced children connect with their roots, offering numerous benefits for their education and emotional development, which are often interrupted due to displacement.
The inception of CPI’s storytelling program is rooted in the experiences at Jalozai Refugee Camp. As detailed in the blog “The Birth of CPI’s Storytelling Program” co-founders Steven and Sarwar’s collaboration began when they realized the profound impact that play and storytelling could have on displaced children. Their efforts to use storytelling as a healing tool laid the foundation for CPI, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural heritage and providing emotional support through narrative.
Displaced children face unique and challenging circumstances that often sever their connections to their cultural and familial roots. Forced to leave their homes due to conflict, natural disasters, or economic hardship, these children may lose touch with their heritage, traditions, and the comforting familiarity of their native environments. In such situations, stories can play a crucial role in helping them reconnect with their roots.
For children uprooted from their homes, reconnecting with their cultural heritage through stories provides a sense of stability and identity.
CPI’s program ensures that these traditions and stories are preserved and cherished, even in the face of adversity
Displacement can severely disrupt children’s education and emotional growth.
CPI’s storytelling program addresses these gaps by providing an engaging educational activity promoting literacy and critical thinking.
Listening to and sharing stories helps children develop language skills, enhance their imagination, and learn valuable life lessons.
Children need connection not only to their past but also to peers of the same background or value system.
Storytelling in a safe and intimate setting fosters a sense of community among displaced children.
The sessions allow them to bond over shared experiences and cultural tales, reducing feelings of isolation and building a supportive network.
The act of sharing and listening to stories is as important as the stories themselves.
It creates a comforting routine that provides emotional solace and a break from the harsh realities of refugee life.
Engaging in storytelling encourages children to express themselves, share their fears and hopes, and listen to others with empathy.
“I was so struck by what Inayat said about children losing their childhood because of not having play,” Steven recalled. “I asked him if the children in Jalozai knew about the Olympics, and suddenly the idea was hatched:
Create a small-scale children’s “Olympics” in Jalozai. The idea was simple, but carrying it out was a major project.
CPI’s first event was held in the now-closed Jalozai Refugee Camp in Pakistan, a tent community of over 150,000 people near the Khyber Pass.
CPI created a mini-Olympics to support children uprooted by regional violence, aiming to reintroduce play, creative activity, and the chance for positive communication.
The agenda for the week included storytelling, painting, traditional song and dance, sports, and fun games. This initiative was designed to help these children regain a sense of normalcy and joy through play and creative expression.
A bit of context:
When CPI visited, the Jalozai refugee camp in Pakistan had been a refuge for Afghan refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) for over two decades.
Located 40 kilometers east of Peshawar, the camp became a temporary home for tens of thousands of Afghans in late 2000.
CPI’s co-founder Sarwar notes that many refugees and displaced people frequently move between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with all significant decisions being made by adults.
“Imagine a child going to sleep in their own bed, only to wake up the next day in a tent, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and environments. This was the harsh reality for many children in the camp, which swelled to accommodate around half a million people—70% of whom were children,” Sarwar says.
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Link to CPI’s Annual Report 2024 here
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