The Importance of Video Games

On the island of Sheylan, conflict and unpredictable weather have brought the need for food assistance to an all-time high. Luckily, you can help! Sheylan is a virtual island in the United Nations World Food Program’s (WFP) interactive video game, Food Force. With six missions to teach about humanitarian crises and how to best deliver food assistance, children are getting an empowered sense that they can be part of the solution.

According to WFP, “Players are required to pilot helicopters on reconnaissance missions, airdrop high energy biscuits to internally displaced person (IDP) camps, negotiate with armed rebels on a food convoy run and use food aid to help rebuild villages.” They can even play each other for high scores. Yet the game isn’t all about flying planes and airdropping food. The site includes educational videos, an interactive hunger map, its own blog and much more.

Teachers can download and use the lesson plans provided by Food Force to teach their students about hunger and how it can be prevented. Additional information is provided for how individuals can help raise awareness and funds for WFP’s real missions. Organize a book sale, plan a carwash or even make a jellybean count! All of these simple ideas can make a huge difference in supporting WFP and its programs to alleviate global hunger. 

Whether it be Mission Two (centered around nutritional needs and costs), Mission Three (measuring the player’s skills at airdropping food to areas in need on Sheylan), or any other mission or educational opportunity, get on the website today to see how you can help in both the virtual world and the real world.

Please also feel free to contact our fundraising department [fundraising@friendsofwfp.org] if you’re interested in organizing a fundraising or awareness event at your school. They will be able to guide you and answer any questions you may have. Remember, it costs WFP just 25 cents to feed a child in school for a day!

Read a recent Voice of America article about Food Force and other video games like it.

Read more about opportunities for students and teachers on WFP’s website.

-Sara Thomson
 Outreach Intern
 Friends of WFP