August 2024
Our Thrilling Journey into Video Game Design
As you may know, Create4Good (C4G) was an event coordinated with JED for the Community, bringing together students from McGill for a weekend “create-a-thon.” This event kickstarted our journey to design an offline, open-source video game focused on climate action for children in the Global South.
Filling a Crucial Gap in Climate Education
Prior to the C4G weekend, our R&D team spent the past two years searching for relevant content on climate change for the communities where we work. The almost complete absence of quality digital content on this critical subject, which we hoped to upload onto the hundreds of RACHEL servers in our Mobile Learning Labs (MLLs), led us to the idea of creating a fun and engaging way to introduce climate change and empower children to take action in their communities.
I must confess, I’m continually amazed by each new milestone our team achieves. With my limited tech skills and even more limited knowledge of video games—aside from the occasional round of Spider Solitaire—I find every step in the game design process thrilling to watch! It’s been a tremendous learning experience for all of us. And on a personal note, I’m now just a bit more “cool” when I tell my grandsons that I’m helping to create a video game!
Meet the Create4Good Game Team
The Create4Good 60 million girls game team is powered by four generous and talented video game designers (pictured above, from left to right): Alfredo Chaves, Marco Purich, Fredérique Émel Carpentier, and Mégane Abel. These professionals have been working pro bono on the project since April, building the foundation of the game design with many ideas generated during the C4G weekend, including the development of avatars and characters.
‘’When I was approached for this project, its target audience and purpose immediately resonated with me.’’ Mégane Abel
Engaging Children in Climate Action
The game aims to help children grasp what climate change is and demonstrate that they are not helpless bystanders in protecting their families and communities. Our R&D team is working on identifying simple, actionable activities that children can undertake on their own or with community support to address the seven main topics the game will eventually cover: drought, flooding, biodiversity loss, fires, landslides, rising temperatures, and coastline deterioration. The first module will address drought in Africa, a pervasive impact of climate change that leads to further impoverishment and severe food insecurity across the continent. Needless to say, this has a negative impact on school attendance everywhere.
Reaching Children Across the Globe
Where possible, we will link the game to content available on the RACHEL servers, allowing children to gain a deeper understanding of how to adapt to and mitigate the effects of extreme weather events. The game will first be made available to 700,000 students in over 20 countries through the RACHEL servers and Mobile Learning Labs. Afterward, it will be freely downloadable by anyone around the world.
Empowering the next generation starts with education—and relevant information!
60 million girls once again CFUW’s International Service Project partner!
60 million girls is honoured that the Canadian Federation of University Women’s (CFUW) International Relations Committee has once again this year chosen us for the CFUW International Service Project (ISP) for 2024-25. Education of women and girls has been a priority for CFUW since its inception in 1919. Helping to fund the project we are supporting with HealthBridge Foundation of Canada ‘’Retaining girls in school in Nepal’’ that will enable marginalized girls to obtain comprehensive sexuality education speaks to what CFUW’s missions, vision and values are all about.
CFUW’s 100 chapters across Canada will be raising funds in support of this project until May 2025.
We are deeply grateful for this recognition of the importance of girls’ education and for CFUW’s belief in the work we do. Their financial support goes a long way in helping us reach more girls. Over $8,000 was raised by CFUW chapters in 2023-2024 for the ‘’She belongs in School’’ project in Mozambique.
Thank you!
A summer BBQ at Delan!
Delan is an important 60 million girls partner since 2023 with their philanthropy program called 1 donation, one hour at a time.
Delan is committed to donating $1 of its income for each hour worked by each of its consultants to one of the 4 charities partnered with Delan. This initiative allows Delan and its consultants to be able to share and give back to society.
Thank you for your important support and for developing such a wonderful program!
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