Cards·Chess·Climate : Naivasha Climate Games Camp 2025
Games Design and Ethnography Masterclass
26/06/2025
Naivasha YMCA | 20–22 June 2025
"Can chess, cards, and creativity inspire climate solutions?", At the Climate Games Camp in Naivasha, 30 youth from Naivasha, Mai Mahiu, and Nakuru said, "Absolutely." Over three immersive days, young leaders gathered to play, design, and critically evaluate two innovative tools—Climate Cards and JIHAMI—that aim to turn complex climate challenges into tangible, teachable moments.
Designing for Dialogue, Not Just Victory
The camp, hosted under the Youth-Led Solutions (YLS) Project, was a dynamic blend of human-centered design, interactive learning, and open dialogue. Participants didn’t just test games—they co-shaped them.
🃏 Climate Cards, presented by YMCA Mombasa, sparked teamwork and grassroots reflection. Players proposed local language versions and emphasized the need for the game to produce actionable insights—not just awareness.
♟️ JIHAMI, inspired by chess, introduced a strategic twist: zones of hazard and hope. But youth reimagined its potential—advocating for:
Collaborative problem-solving before competition
Eco-friendly game materials
Climate-literate rulebooks and adaptive formats
Campfires, Fellowship and Future Plans
Between game sessions, youth reflected on the role of agency, fellowship, and shared learning in the climate movement. Conversations around bonfires turned into blueprints for climate justice.
Next Steps
- Refinement of game mechanics and clarity of learning outcomes
- Development of facilitation guides for wider use
- Translation into Swahili, Sheng, and other local languages
- Game production using sustainable, portable materials
- School and community game-day rollouts
- Launch of a Youth Climate Action Network
