Founder of Right to Play receives award for world-changing vision

Islamabad

The Public Policy Forum (PPF) Canada has awarded the founder of Right To Play, Johann Olav Koss, for his world-changing vision to promote positive child and youth development through the power of sport and play. The award was presented to him by the Prime Minister of Canada at a ceremony held in Toronto.

PPF awards each year to pay tribute to distinguished Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to the quality of public policy and good governance.

Johann Olav Koss is founder of Right to Play and a four times Olympian gold medallist in speed skating. He is recognized as a social entrepreneur for his work in promoting the use of sport and play as a tool for childhood development. In Pakistan, Right to Play has helped over 400,000 children and youth through life-skills education in schools and communities.

Johann founded Right to Play in 2000; the organization is currently operating in 20 countries and reaching over 1 million children and youth through its sport and play programmes every week. Right To Play uses sport and play to educate and empower children and youth to overcome the effects of poverty, conflict, and disease in disadvantaged communities.

Previously, Johann Olav Koss has received the most prestigious Order of Canada Award by the government of Canada in 2015. He received an honorary appointment to the Order of Canada for his efforts work to help children of the world through the power of play and sport. This prestigious honour was established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

In 2013, The LEGO Foundation awarded the founder of Right to Play the LEGO Prize as recognition of the tremendous impact he has had on children’s lives through Right To Play. The LEGO Prize is awarded to individuals and institutions that have made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children and young people.

Johann Olav Koss became a Unicef ambassador and remained a member of the International Olympic Committee until 2002.

Since 1993, Johann remained dedicated to helping vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people to a better future using play and sport as a tool for education, health, and social cohesion. Right To Play equips and empowers children to build a better tomorrow for themselves and their communities through higher quality learning experiences through sport and play.