Children and young people affected by displacement often witness extreme acts of violence and human suffering. The Better Learning Programme (BLP) creates safe, supporting learning environments that foster healing and nurture hope across 35 countries.
Better Learning Programme (BLP)
Over 122 million people globally are forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence and persecution. Among them are 50 million children and young people.
Some 38 per cent of displaced children do not attend primary school, and a staggering 78 per cent do not attend secondary school. Many suffer from mental health conditions, stress and trauma.
Displaced children and young people who have experienced trauma are particularly vulnerable to stress when encountering a new crisis. This can affect their capacity to learn, thrive, and achieve their full potential.
For this reason, psychosocial support is a core pillar of the Norwegian Refugee Council's (NRC) Global Education Strategy. This is delivered primarily through the Better Learning Programme, a multi-faceted approach that mobilises educators and caregivers to improve children and young people’s wellbeing.
BLP in practice
BLP-1 |
| An intervention designed to support learning for students who are academically underachieving due to high levels of stress. |
BLP-2 |
| A small group intervention to support learning amongst a more specific target group of academic underachievers. |
BLP-3 |
| A targeted intervention to address nightmares, a common and persistent symptom of traumatic stress. |
BLP-T |
| A self-care approach to support the wellbeing and resilience of teachers and frontliners in crisis settings. |
BLP in numbers
Since 2022, NRC has strengthened the quality, effectiveness and reach of the BLP across its global education programmes. More than 1 million children and young people have participated in the programme to date, with an average of 69 per cent reporting improvement in their psychosocial wellbeing.
Today, the Better Learning Programme is implemented in 35 countries around the world.
Watch the BLP documentary
Reclaiming the Night is an award-winning short documentary that follows Norwegian professor Jon-Håkon Schultz as he works to help refugee children overcome trauma-induced nightmares. Filmed across Norway and Lebanon, the story traces Schultz’s journey from his research at The Arctic University of Norway to the real-world impact of the BLP.
The film offers an intimate look at the invisible wounds of war, told through the lives of children affected by conflict and the educators helping them heal. At the centre is a young Syrian girl from Raqqa, whose story illustrates how structured psychological support can restore sleep, safety, and learning after trauma.
The BLP Scale-Up via White Label Approach was selected for the HundrED Global Collection 2026. The Global Collection highlights 100 of the brightest education innovations from around the world annually. Our innovation was chosen out of 789 innovations submitted and was reviewed by an expert academy board.
