The Boston-based Scratch Foundation has announced a $7.8 million grant from the LEGO Foundation in support of programs that address global inequities in creative learning experiences for children between the ages of 5 and 12.

The Scratch Foundation promotes the child-focused Scratch programming platform—developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—which offers software and logic skills training through a “learning through play” model, providing young people with digital tools and opportunities to imagine, create, share, and learn, while encouraging them to engage and collaborate with one another. The funding will be used to expand the Scratch Education Collaborative, an international network of strategic partners; conduct research to better understand and measure how children engage with the Scratch platform; and develop new evidence-based features and ready the platform for global growth.

“In our fast-changing world, creative learning is critical if we are to prepare children for the challenges of tomorrow,” said Scratch Foundation president Margaret Honey. “This grant [extends] our long-standing partnership with the LEGO Foundation, solidifying our joint commitment to providing more children and educators worldwide with creative learning through play opportunities.”

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