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| (Image Source: Games For Change) |
Games For Change (G4C) is proud to announce the launch of the 10th annual G4C Student Challenge, a game design program that has empowered over 55,000 students and 1,100 educators worldwide to become creative problem-solvers and changemakers. Since its inception in 2015, the Student Challenge has inspired students to design 6,700 games that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), all while developing critical STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics) skills, creativity, and digital design expertise.
The program has evolved over the last decade, expanding across the United States and around the world and reaching participants from 46 countries and 232 cities. The Challenge has also expanded its resource hub to include educator, parent, and student toolkits that are free to download and use at home, in school, or out of school. Educators also have access to free professional development, which helps educators integrate game design into curricula and teaching practice. Educators participating in the program report significant improvements in students' engagement, creativity, and confidence. The 2024-2025 Student Challenge is open for submissions from January 6 through April 18, 2025. The Challenge will culminate in an awards ceremony on June 12, 2025, recognizing winners and finalists across a wide range of award categories. This year’s Challenge introduces three exciting new themes developed in collaboration with leading global partners. These themes encourage students to tackle pressing social and environmental challenges, including hunger, environmental sustainability, and equitable resource distribution:
• Peaceformers, supported by the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), invites students to design games set in imagined civilizations where peace depends on equitable resource sharing. By navigating complex decisions around food, water, and shelter, students explore how leadership and fairness can foster peaceful coexistence in times of scarcity.
• Nurture Yourself with Nature, backed by Earthwatch Europe, addresses eco-anxiety by highlighting the healing power of nature. Students design games that guide players through five pathways to strengthen their connection with the environment, showcasing how nature can improve mental health and resilience in the face of climate change.
• Outplay Hunger, supported by World Food Programme USA, tackles the global hunger crisis. Students create games focusing on reducing food waste and promoting healthy diets, encouraging players to take action in their communities and rethink how we produce and consume food. The theme features teaching resources from Take Action Global (TAG).
“For a decade, we’ve seen the G4C Student Challenge empowering students to see themselves not just as game designers but as future leaders and innovators. The Games For Change Student Challenge has proven that when young people are given the opportunity to engage with real-world problems creatively, they can drive meaningful change in their communities — and learn a lot of essential skills in the process," says G4C Chief Operations and Programs Officer Arana Shapiro. “At World Food Programme USA, we are proud to collaborate with this year's Games For Change Student Challenge on the Outplay Hunger theme. This gaming challenge gives students an exciting opportunity to combine their passion with a meaningful cause -- ending hunger worldwide. By engaging with this theme, students will gain valuable insights into global food insecurity and learn how they can make a real difference through gaming. Together, we're inspiring the next generation to harness their creativity and work towards a future with zero hunger," said World Food Programme USA Chief Marketing Officer Jessamyn Sarmiento. WPDI Domestic Harmonizer Program Director Monya Kian states, “The collaboration between WPDI and G4C empowers students to become architects of peace by encouraging the creation of interactive games that demonstrate how it's possible to build a more compassionate world despite real-world challenges. We are excited to participate in this unique opportunity and delighted to showcase students' top entries in our game arcade, Hear Me Out.” Earthwatch Europe Senior Education & Learning Specialist Megan Evans said, "We are delighted to support the 'Nurture Yourself with Nature' theme in this year’s Games For Change Student Challenge. This initiative offers a fun and creative way for students to explore how reconnecting with nature can alleviate eco-anxiety and foster mental well-being. We are excited to be part of a partnership seeking to inspire the next generation to create connections with nature that will help them build resilience and empower them to create a sustainable future."
Educators are critical to the G4C Student Challenge’s success. This fall, the program is offering 15 free professional development sessions to educators worldwide, providing them with the tools they need to integrate game design into their classroom curricula. These sessions ensure that the program continues to expand its impact and reach in global communities. This year’s Student Challenge is made possible through the generous support of key partners including Verizon, Hasbro, Unity, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, Earthwatch Europe, World Food Programme USA, Take Action Global, General Motors, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Take-Two Interactive, and Press Start Academy. Learn more about the 10th annual G4C Student Challenge at gamesforchange.org/studentchallenge.
