In an era where games are more than entertainment, a new wave of African student developers is proving that play can drive real-world change. Through the Games for Change (G4C) Student Challenge, young minds across the continent are designing digital experiences that inspire action on pressing global issues from food insecurity to sustainability.

A Global Platform for Local Voices

The Games for Change Student Challenge is a flagship educational program that invites students aged 10–18 to design games addressing real-world challenges. Each year’s theme encourages creativity with a cause and for 2024–2025, the call to action is bold and urgent: “Outplay Hunger.”

Developed in partnership with World Food Program USA, the theme invites students to design games tackling two critical issues food waste reduction and access to healthy diets. It challenges them to think beyond gameplay and into impact: How can games teach empathy, awareness, and responsibility around hunger?

According to the World Food Program, nearly 760 million people, including 150 million children, face hunger worldwide. Even more alarming, about one-fifth of all food produced is lost or wasted, contributing to massive economic and environmental costs. The “Outplay Hunger” challenge gives students a creative platform to address this injustice — one pixel, one level, and one idea at a time.

Ghana’s Rising Stars: Ecole Ronsard’s Global Win

A shining example of Africa’s growing influence in this space comes from Ecole Ronsard in Ghana. In 2025, four secondary school students — Elroi Baffour Awuah, Tahama Alidu Napari, Juno Abunu, and Johny Danquah won the “Best Outplay Hunger Game” category at the G4C Student Challenge, standing tall as Ghana’s sole representatives on the global stage.

Their award-winning game combined storytelling, strategy, and education to explore hunger within their community, focusing on reducing food waste and promoting healthy diets. Using tools like Scratch and Unity, they created a game that not only entertained but educated transforming gameplay into a journey of empathy and awareness.

Over seven weeks of preparation, the team brainstormed real-world hunger challenges, researched global data, designed mechanics that mirrored sustainable choices, and iterated through multiple rounds of playtesting. The result? A polished, meaningful game that impressed international judges and showcased the power of purpose-driven design.

Beyond the Code: Lessons in Creativity, Collaboration, and Change

For these young developers, success meant more than a trophy. Their journey through the G4C Challenge became an exercise in leadership, teamwork, and global citizenship. They learned to transform local problems into global conversations proving that African youth are not just consumers of technology but creators of change.

As Ecole Ronsard’s story spread, it became a beacon for schools across Africa. The victory demonstrated that with the right mentorship, digital tools, and vision, African students can compete and win on the world stage.

The Bigger Picture: Gaming Africa’s Future

Africa’s gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing in the world, with a rising generation of developers, artists, and storytellers eager to make their mark. Programs like Games for Change are helping bridge the gap between education and innovation, empowering students to use technology not only to play but to build and solve.

“Outplay Hunger” isn’t just a theme, it’s a metaphor for empowerment. It challenges students to imagine a world where technology nourishes both minds and communities.

As the 2024–2025 G4C Challenge continues, African educators, policymakers, and creative communities are urged to get involved. By nurturing these talents early, Africa can become a global hub for social impact game design — where every game tells a story of resilience, creativity, and change.