This Tuesday (12), the DiversiGames participate for the first time in the South by Southwest (SXSW), the largest technology, innovation, creativity and culture festival in the world, which takes place annually in Austin, Texas (USA). The project focuses on social and digital inclusion, which promotes access to the culture of electronic games, technology and innovation for minority groups such as children, adolescents and young people in situations of social and economic vulnerability, residents of favelas or other locations, people with disabilities (PwD), black people and representatives of the LGBTQIAPN+ community.
In addition to participating in Ignite Talk, this Monday (11), DiversiGames will participate in a panel on games at Casa So Paulo, set up at SXSW 2024.
The project’s visibility grew to an impressive level, catching the attention of influential figures such as Rohit Bhargava, author, speaker and marketing strategist known for his innovative ideas, who met the project in person a year ago and liked what he saw. Your offer of help and support took DiversiGames to the stage at SXSW, one of the biggest technology and cultural events in the world.
Ricardo Chantilly, creator and executive director of DiversiGames, decided to give voice to Jamela (Mrcio dos Santos Correa), professor and ambassador of the project, at SXSW 2024, a person who represents exactly the values and purpose of the project, of diversity and transformation , in addition to knowing him very well.
The topic covered will be the project itself and the digital revolution and inclusion through games for young people who do not have access. In addition to showing the opportunities that the project offers to everyone, regardless of their origin or social status.
SXSW is an achievement and an opportunity to show on a global scale the size and delivery of our project. We intend to show the experience of including ‘digital illiterates’ in the billionaire world of gamers, because the vast majority of young people have access to cell phones, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, but the computer itself, programming, strategies, English, all of this does not have ”, comments Chantilly.;
Diversity and transformation
DiversiGames emerged through Chantilly, a figure who has always worked in the world of brands, advertising and music, being manager of bands like JotaQuest and O Rappa, until he arrived in the gaming universe, where he found not only a new passion, but also a mission: promote inclusion and social transformation through technology.
Five years ago, AfroGames, created from a proposal brought by a friend linked to AfroReggae, became the first training center for e-sports players in favelas. Soon, the project was invited to participate in Gamescom, the biggestgames of the world, in Germany, sponsored by TikTok, which requested a diversity team.
With the great growth, AfroGames did not limit itself to being just an Afro project and started to address diversity without realizing it. This is how DiversiGames was born, a movement that goes beyond games and promotes citizenship, school support, English classes and human appreciation.
The gaming world has played a significant role in the lives of young people from peripheral areas and in vulnerable situations. Proof of this is DiversiGames itself, which today has young people working in companies, young people who have escaped crime, or who didn’t even enter crime and today have a profession. Furthermore, they have children as young as 12 who are already creating games.
impressive. We attract young people through games, but in reality we work on citizenship, school support, English classes, appreciation as a human being, among others. And the speed of response is incredible, in just a few technology classes, they already have a great idea, says the project’s creator.
The project not only attracts young people to the world of games, but prepares them for a promising future, whether in the technology sector or in any other area. Knowledge of DiversiGames can open doors in different areas and jobs.
We believe that we will not transform thousands of young people into players, narrators, judges or programmers, but rather take technology to a level to improve their lives”, reinforces the executive director.
Project expansion and sponsors
In addition to two Training Centers in Rio de Janeiro, one in the north zone and another in Niteri, close to communities, which cover all young people. Now, the project is preparing to expand to So Paulo, with a new proposal.
From the combination of two NGOs, ‘Decor Social’, which renovates shelters, creating a safe, inspiring and welcoming environment for children and teenagers and ‘Gente de caso’, which rescues young people from the streets. The project also decided to join the games, inviting DiversiGames.
That way, A DiversiGames unit emerged in So Paulo, which is being adapted. Young people will spend the day in the unit that offers diverse knowledge, but they will be hooked by the games. The idea is for the training center to be located in Praça da S, central region of São Paulo.
In So Paulo, who will be on the front line, working with young people who live in situations of risk and vulnerability, is Caio Luiz, who has already lived in a similar situation and can certainly contribute even more to showing how his life has changed with games.
Currently, DiversiGames has the support of some sponsors such as Aegea, Enel Rio, TikTok, DT3, Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Ministry of Culture, and the Woohoo channel, in addition to the partnership with the City of Niteri.
The project seeks to bring a bank and an internet operator as sponsors, which will greatly help in the growth of the project and in the learning of young people.
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