Online game that can bring peace to warring world

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A new web-based game, expected to be released next month, will put peace-building professionals in a virtual world, where they will have to navigate through the challenges of a fictitious country devastated by violent conflict. The game allows peace builders to hone their skills and practise dealing with a lack of trust by the population and the government, insecurity caused by armed groups and low capacity of institutions without anyone being harmed.

"The [objective is] to produce a prospective player who would conduct ongoing conflict analysis, while identifying root causes and dynamics. After playing the peacebuilding game, practitioners should be able to execute their learning in their real life quest to peace," said Stephanie de Freitas, programme officer of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes' peace-building unit.

"In short, the game aims to better equip practitioners to deliver results on the ground, having practised critical skills virtually in safe context," said the PeaceNexus Foundation, which is the initiator of the project.

The idea for an online game came from the lack of training that civilian and military professionals have in adapting to unforeseen challenges in the field. In a presentation to peace-building institutions earlier this year, PeaceNexus games were proven to be an effective and entertaining way to train essential skills.

Source: The Times