According to an analysis of the security situation in West Africa by FriedrichEbert-Stiftung’s Peace and Security Centre of Competence Sub-Saharan Africa, the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NuPI) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Climate-related security risks have serious implications for individuals, communities, and states. Climate- related security risks urgently need to be connected to local priorities and translated into the language used in local policies, to shore up “climate literacy”. Actions, policies and laws designed to address security issues – of which conflict with the law is a fundamentally important issue – should address climate vulnerabilities, and shore up the ways people organise, govern and adapt.
Core Assumption
The core assumption of this project is that by using games and gamification techniques, the YMCA and partners can successfully mobilize community action, improve climate literacy and accumulate evidence for policy interventions that improve young people’s resilience to the negative effects of climate change, especially as relates to the risk factors that result in young people being in conflict with the law.
The Community Game Consoles
The Community Game console is a physical PowerSpace located within a YMCA within which Design Thinking, Game Design and Climate Adaptation methodologies are implemented to give birth to games that help build the resilience of young people to climate change. Each Console will be managed by a team of youth leaders and volunteers with the technical guidance of local YMCA as well as AAYMCA staff located at the Africa Renaissance Hub.
Youth leaders and staff at the Hub will implement Design Thinking and Game Design skills passed to them during a continental collaborative meeting, follow up online sessions and follow up Design sprints led by the ARH staff. At the continental collaborative meeting (year 1), 36 youth and 10 staff will participate in a Masterclass on Design Thinking, Game Design and Climate Change Adaptation techniques.
After the collaborative session, the AAYMCA will select 5 YMCAs that will each dedicate accessible physical spaces that will serve as the engine for implementation, testing and expansion of the game prototype. It is expected that the testing and implementation of the prototypes will produce iterations of the games that will increase the efficiency and reach of the games.
