Introduction
Adolescence is a complex phase of life. For the displaced Rohingya youth, it can be doubly challenging to navigate the complexities of growing up without a proper home. The Rohingya Adolescents and Youth Game is a mobile game that educates Rohingya youths on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). It is an initiative of BBC Action Media, with Riseup Labs as the development partner. Alongside providing information, the game also serves as a rehabilitation tool, providing a much-needed source of relief to cope with this unstable period.
For many Rohingya teens, the absence of familial guidance due to loss and emotional burnout makes seeking advice about puberty particularly difficult. Against this backdrop, The Rohingya Adolescents and Youth Game offers a familial voice, helping teens learn about their bodies. The game covers topics on puberty, menstruation, wet dreams, STIs including HIV and AIDS, child marriage, consent, early pregnancy, contraception, and more.
The Objective
A game that teenagers can connect to
The educational game aims to facilitate healthy and informed choices for the youths. Achieving this would require being mindful of cultural sensitivities while accurately depicting youth’s struggles. Overcoming language barriers is also key in making the game more accessible. Not to mention, Portraying real-life stories of teens through familiar characters will inspire youth and lead to meaningful learning outcomes.

The Challenge
Bridging gaps with creative, cultural, and technical expertise
A game that functions as an effective educational tool calls for extensive research and expert collaborations. Beyond game developers, healthcare providers, story experts, designers, and cultural experts have an indispensable role. Given its focus on Rohingya youth, it is equally crucial to collaborate with teachers, parents, and community leaders. Striking a successful collaboration, crafting a compelling game world, maintaining quality and accuracy, and ensuring cultural appropriateness comprise the core challenges for this game.

Below is a summary of the challenges:
- Specialist considerations for device compatibility, programming, game engine, UI, character design, story development, and server infrastructure.
- Burmese language integration for inclusivity and improved learning.
- Community collaboration to ensure the game’s relevance.
- An intuitive and visually appealing UI to enhance player engagement.
- Adhering to community guidelines to ensure the game’s appropriateness and quality.
The Solution
Achieving Comprehensive Results with Targeted Strategies
The game’s development journey involved surgical solutions to overcome the core challenges. From selecting the right game engine to training the team on the community guidelines and implementing newer design principles, Riseup Labs adopted effective strategies for the Game For Rohingya Adolescents and Youths.

Below is a summary of the solutions implemented:
- Using Unity game engine for cross-platform development.
- Cultural sensitivity training for developers on Rohingya culture.
- Decision-making and role-playing scenarios for engagement.
- Adaptive learning design with visuals, audio, and interactivity for varying literacy levels.
- Creating reusable modules for faster delivery.
- Developing offline mode.
- Pre- and post-game assessments for continuous improvement.
- Bug fixing via comprehensive testing.
The Impact
The Rohingya Adolescents and Youth Game, available in Burmese and English, features seven games with over 50 levels. It is compatible with phones, tablets, and PCs, even on low-configuration devices. With a focus on accessibility, Riseup Labs ensured the game’s broad reach, leading to over 30 million downloads.
Click here to access download links for the preferred device, language, or level.
This page was last edited on 29 December 2024, at 5:01 pm
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