Bridging STEAM skill gaps, strengthening inclusive practices, and more.

GVGC partners with UNICEF for Game Changers Coalition

Bridging STEAM skill gaps, strengthening inclusive practices, and more.

November 18, 2024

EA is proud to support the Global Video Game Coalition's (GVGC) groundbreaking partnership with UNICEF and the newly established Game Changers Coalition, which has launched to equip adolescent girls with the skills and leadership to thrive in a tech-driven future. EA is serving as a key industry leader alongside other companies such as Sony Interactive Entertainment, Ubisoft, Roblox and more.

With 90% of jobs today requiring digital competencies, the Game Changers Coalition responds to the urgency of closing the gender digital skills gap and enabling girls, especially in emerging economies, to pursue careers in high-income, fast-growing industries like video gaming and tech.

In the next three years, the Game Changers Coalition aims to reach 3 million girls directly, building on UNICEF's broader goal of equipping 26 million girls worldwide with learning and skills-building opportunities to go from playing to learning to earning.

As a creative, community-driven entertainment company, EA continues to focus on closing opportunity gaps in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education. By investing in STEAM, we are helping to ensure that learners have the capabilities and experiences that enable them to contribute to their communities and reach their full potential.

"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."

Empowering girls for a tech-driven future

Through this partnership, the GVGC and UNICEF jointly commit to building a more inclusive, diverse, and secure digital future..

"UNICEF is proud to partner with the Global Video Game Coalition to equip adolescent girls around the world with the STEAM skills they need to build a better, more inclusive digital future," said Thomas Davin, Director, UNICEF Office of Innovation. "This partnership exemplifies how innovative, multisectoral collaborations can lead to transformative social impact, equipping the next generation with the tools they need to shape their futures."

Co-creating a roadmap for success

The Game Changers Coalition launch event marked the beginning of a two-year plan of joint activities designed to scale impact and technical collaboration across multiple countries.

GVGC, represented by its co-chairs - the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Video Games Europe - remarked on the significance of this partnership as a unique opportunity to demonstrate the video gaming industry's potential for positive social change.

"EA is proud to support the Global Video Game Coalition and its sponsorship of UNICEF's Game Changers Coalition," says EA's Kerry Hopkins, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs. "This initiative is a powerful opportunity to equip adolescent girls with the skills, leadership, and confidence they need to thrive in a tech-driven world. As an industry leader, we are committed to ensuring that the next generation of innovators, creators, and leaders are equipped to lead the future of the gaming industry."

Adolescent girls from around the world spoke at the event on behalf of their communities about the transformational impact of such initiatives in their lives:

"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.

"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."

A shared commitment to scaling impact

With the support of the Swedish government and other key donors, the Game Changers Coalition has already demonstrated early success through its pilot programme. Over the past year, the Coalition began laying the foundation for scaling its customized and girl-centered curriculum, reaching over 100,000 adolescent girls, parents and teachers across 41 schools in Armenia, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, and South Africa.

The innovative approach of blending traditional STEAM training with the dynamic and creative medium of game development has increased participant retention rates by up to 40% compared to standard programmes. The partnership between UNICEF and GVGC will build on these early results.

Call for continued collaboration

The Game Changers Coalition unites stakeholders with a shared commitment to closing gender gaps in tech and enhancing girls' STEAM skills.

Through the Coalition, UNICEF is teaming up 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 gaming industries that countless children and young people engage with every day.

EA also works directly with UNICEF through the EA SPORTS FC FUTURES comprehensive programme, Namibia Futures, as announced in May. This multi-year partnership will use the power of football to create long-lasting social change in Namibia and beyond, reaching over 46,000 children and adolescents.

Read more about EA's worldwide impact in our 2024 Impact Report.

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