UNICEF and the Global Video Game Coalition partner to open career pathways for girls in the video game and tech sector
Geneva, 8 November 2024 – UNICEF and the Global Video Game Coalition (GVGC) announce their partnership to equip adolescent girls with the technological and leadership skills needed to thrive in a digital future.
Every year, adolescent girls and young women in low and middle-income countries miss out on USD 15 billion in economic opportunities due to a gap in internet access and digital skills relative to their male peers. With 90 per cent of jobs today requiring digital competencies, the Game Changers Coalition responds to the urgency of closing the gender digital skills gap.
The partnership aims to equip girls, especially in emerging economies, to pursue careers in high-income, fast-growing industries like video game and tech.
Over the next three years, the Game Changers Coalition aims to reach 3 million girls, contributing to UNICEF’s broader goal of equipping 26 million girls worldwide with learning and skills-building opportunities to go from playing to learning to earning.
The Game Changers Coalition will also bring together key players who contribute to the GVGC – including brands such as Electronic Arts (EA), Roblox, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Ubisoft – to build a more inclusive and diverse digital future.
“The partnership between UNICEF and Global Video Game Coalition can be truly catalytic for improving outcomes for millions of adolescent girls around the world. It exemplifies how strategic, multisectoral collaborations can lead to transformative social impact,” said Thomas Davin, Director, UNICEF Office of Innovation.
The partnership was announced at the launch of the Game Changers Coalition in Geneva, an event co-hosted by UNICEF’s Office of Innovation and GVGC representatives marking the beginning of an initial one -year plan of joint activities to scale impact and technical collaboration across multiple countries.
GVGC, represented by its co-chairs – the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Video Games Europe (VGE) – highlighted the significance of this partnership as a unique opportunity to demonstrate the video game industry’s potential for positive social change.
“The video game industry is proud to support UNICEF’s mission of promoting gender equality and empowering young girls,” said Tatjana Sachse, GVGC Lead Spokesperson & Counsel. “By creating new opportunities for girls to learn and lead, we’re helping build a more inclusive and diverse future for our industry and beyond.”
With support from the Swedish government and other key donors, the Game Changers Coalition has already demonstrated early success through a pilot programme that laid a strong foundation for scaling its customized and girl-centred Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) curriculum. To date, the initiative has reached over 100,000 adolescent girls, parents and teachers across 41 schools in Armenia, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, and South Africa.
“Having industry specialists as mentors has been life changing. They teach us to think smart, to be creative, and to keep pursuing our dreams in this field,” said Akmaral Nurlibekkyzy, 18, Kazakhstan.
The innovative approach of blending traditional STEAM training with the dynamic and creative medium of video game development has increased participant retention rates by up to 40 per cent compared to standard programmes. The partnership between UNICEF and GVGC will build on these early results.
The Game Changers Coalition unites stakeholders with a shared commitment to closing gender gaps in tech and enhancing girls’ STEAM skills. Through the initiative, UNICEF is partnering with private companies, civil society organizations, governments, and young leaders to positively impact the lives of millions of girls around the world and shape the landscape of tech and video game industries that children and young people engage with every day.
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The Game Changers Coalition builds on UNICEF’s existing work of providing girls with digital and 21st century skills through its Skills4Girls initiative.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Find out more about UNICEF Office of Innovation at unicef.org/innovation.
About the Global Video Game Coalition
The Global Video Game Coalition (GVGC) serves as the voice and advocate for the global video game industry on video games and well-being. The GVGC is a coalition of national and regional trade associations representing innovative and creative video game publishers and developers from around the world. The GVGC seeks to cultivate a dialogue with public health policymakers about the mental, physical, and social benefits of video game play and the industry’s long-standing commitment to responsible game play. Visit thegvgc.org for more information.
For more information, please contact:
Yemi Lufadeju, Communications Manager, UNICEF Office of Innovation Email: glufadeju@unicef.org
Tatjana Sachse, Lead Spokesperson & Counsel for the Global Video Game Coalition Email: tsachse@sidley.com
Global Video Game Coalition Hosts ‘Games for Good’ Event to Highlight the Positive Impact of Video Games
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tatjana Sachse
tsachse@thegvgc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GENEVA – Oct. 31, 2023 – Today, the Global Video Game Coalition (GVGC) hosted its first-ever ‘Games for Good’ event at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva with support from the following Permanent Missions to the WTO: France, the United Kingdom and the United States. The event featured a discussion on how innovation and digital trade in video games contribute to sustainability, science, education, inclusion and overall wellbeing. Additionally, the event included demonstrations and hands-on playtime with video games that create and foster positive social impact.
“The Global Video Game Coalition is delighted to showcase the positive impact of video games directly with the international community,” said Tatjana Sachse, Lead Spokesperson and Counsel, GVGC. “Beyond entertainment, video games have enormous potential to positively impact various aspects of the lives of the billions of players around the world, and we are grateful for the opportunity to showcase just a few of these games. We sincerely thank our co-sponsors for providing us with the opportunity to host this event and we look forward to continuing to work together with the international community in Geneva.”
The event included remarks from 11 bit studios’ Pawel Miechowski, Electronic Arts’ James Salmon, Microsoft’s Jen Scully and Ubisoft’s Kelsey McLaren. Video games and devices featured at the event highlighted accessibility and inclusion, education, exercise and movement, scientific research, sustainability and wellbeing and social engagement. The games and products included:
- Electronic Arts: EA SPORTS FC FUTURES Training Practices
- Gearbox Entertainment: Borderlands Science
- Microsoft Xbox: Minecraft BBC “Frozen Planet II”
- Microsoft Xbox: Minecraft Rivercraft
- Microsoft Xbox: Adaptive Controllers
- Nintendo: Nintendo Switch Sports
- Nintendo: Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Nintendo: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Ubisoft: Just Dance
- Ubisoft: Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece
- Sony Interactive Entertainment PlayStation: Access controller for PS5
- Sony Interactive Entertainment PlayStation: Climate Station
- Stork Limited: Goodville
- 11 bit studios: This War of Mine
Video games are a source of entertainment for billions of people worldwide, of all ages and backgrounds. The video game industry recognizes and encourages responsible video game play and is committed to supporting the wellbeing of its players. For more information about the GVGC, visit www.theGVGC.org.
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About the Global Video Game Coalition
The Global Video Game Coalition (GVGC) serves as the voice and advocate for the global video game industry on video games and well-being. The GVGC is a coalition of national and regional trade associations representing innovative and creative video game publishers and developers from around the world. The GVGC seeks to cultivate a dialogue with public health policymakers about the mental, physical and social benefits of video game play and the industry’s long-standing commitment to responsible game play. Visit thegvgc.org for more information.
Power of Play Global Report 2023
On October 10, 2023, video game associations across the world released the first-ever Power of Play report. The report highlights the findings from peer-reviewed academic research about the positive effects of gameplay, which are confirmed by a survey of 12,847 active (weekly) players (ages 16 and older) in 12 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. The survey revealed that in addition to entertainment, video games provide players with a number of social and emotional benefits that are shared on a global level. Download the full report here.
Video Game Industry Associations Collaborate to Launch the Global Video Game Coalition (GVGC)
The coalition will serve as the voice and advocate for the global video game industry on video games and well-being
GENEVA – NOV. 2, 2022 – The world’s leading video game associations today announced the formation of the Global Video Game Coalition (GVGC) to raise awareness of the positive impact of video game play on players of all ages and to demonstrate the industry’s long-standing commitment to enabling players, parents and guardians to engage in responsible game play.
Founding members of the GVGC include the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC), the German Games Industry Association (game), Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA), the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), Korea Association of Game Industry (K-GAMES) and The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie).
Tatjana Sachse, counsel with Sidley Austin LLP, will serve as the coalition’s lead spokesperson and counsel. Sachse brings extensive experience counseling commercial clients and sovereign governments across a broad range of global regulatory and trade issues, particularly those affecting the entertainment, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, medical technology, agriculture and food industries. She has represented and advocated on behalf of clients before governments, as well as numerous intergovernmental and United Nations (UN) organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO).
“I am thrilled to be appointed as the spokesperson and counsel for the GVGC, representing an industry that believes in the power of play. Playing video games enhances the well-being of players of all ages and can benefit society as a whole. I look forward to finding synergies for engagement and collaboration with the Geneva community,” said Sachse.
First and foremost, playing video games is a source of entertainment and fun. Enjoyed by billions worldwide according to the Newzoo 2021 Global Games Market Report, video games also provide numerous other benefits to players of all ages, including enhancing mental well-being, bringing people together and facilitating physical activity. For more than 25 years, the video game industry has provided tools and information to players, parents and caregivers, in order to encourage video game play as part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
For more information, please visit thegvgc.org.
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About the Global Video Game Coalition
The Global Video Game Coalition (GVGC) serves as the voice and advocate for the global video game industry on video games and well-being. The GVGC is a coalition of national and regional trade associations representing innovative and creative video game publishers and developers from around the world. The GVGC seeks to cultivate a dialogue with public health policymakers about the mental, physical and social benefits of video game play and the industry’s long-standing commitment to responsible game play. Visit thegvgc.org for more information.
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