Children from across the world are invited to build peace in Minecraft

Active Citizen is a game-based learning experience developed in a cooperation between Minecraft Education and the Nobel Peace Center. The game is available for students across the world from today. In this new Minecraft universe, the students meet four Nobel Peace Prize laureates and are invited into their world. Here, they learn how peace can be built through actions, big and small. The game will help them understand how they can get involved in creating positive change and build their own vision for peace – in Minecraft.

“With this game we want to inspire the next generation to become active citizens and get involved in causes they care about –on a platform where they feel at home, said Kjersti Fløgstad, Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Center. “Right now, hope - and a belief that change is possible - is something children and youth need more than ever. In Active Citizen players can learn that they can make a difference and that even small actions can lead to positive change. The game can also be a starting point for conversations about the concerns many children are feeling in today’s situation."

Norwegian Minister of Education, Tonje Brenna, was present at the launch, and emphasized the important role games can play in children's learning - also when is comes to learning about difficult topics as peace and war. "One thing we can learn from the Nobel Peace Prize laureates is that working for peace is so much more than just preventing war", she said.

Vidar Helgesen, the Executive Director of the Nobel Prize foundation, said:

"My hope is that the Nobel Peace Prize laureates in this game will inspire hope in the young generation.

Hope and courage are extremely important in today’s world. As we have war in our neighborhood and prepare for scenes of horror we will also see hope. And hope will keep people alive and eventually bring peace."

The game starts at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, where players are introduced to Alfred Nobel, the creator of the Nobel Prizes. The player will meet four Nobel Peace Prize laureates, learn their stories, and help them overcome challenges to build toward peace. The Nobel Peace Prize laureates featured in ‘Active Citizen’ are Malala Yousafzai, Wangari Maathai, Dalai Lama and Fridtjof Nansen. The game includes accompanying resources on the Nobel Peace Center’s website for classroom use, including lesson plans and teacher discussion guides for students aged 8-16.

Greeting from Dalai Lama

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, one of the actors in the new game, is welcoming the new learning platform. In a greeting, he writes: We all have the responsibility to create a peaceful and compassionate society. I welcome the Nobel Peace Center’s initiative of the Active Citizen project. I hope, through the interactive game, my young brothers and sisters will be encouraged to promote democratic and peaceful actions for a warm-hearted and compassionate society.”

Wanjira Mathai, the daughter of Wangari Mathaai, sent a video message to the launch, telling the audience that the most important thing she learned from her mother, was to care about the society around us. “No matter where you are or what you do: Engage!! Find a cause or an organization to work for. Nothing will give you more satisfaction than to engage in a cause you believe in.”

The ‘Active Citizen’ project is the first collaboration between the Nobel Peace Center and Minecraft: Education Edition, and the first time the Nobel Peace Prize is part of a gaming activation of this scale. Games for Change, a nonprofit that executive produces social impact gaming projects, facilitated the connection between Mojang Studios and the Nobel Peace Center, and has supported the Nobel Peace Center in the development of educational resources for use in 112 countries where Minecraft: Education Editionis used in schools.“Our purpose at Minecraftis to build a better world through the power of play. Through Active Citizen, we’re inviting students to bring their visions of a better world to life not only in Minecraft, but also in their schools and communities,” said Allison Matthews, Head of Minecraft Education. “We are honored to partner with the Nobel Peace Center and Games for Change to inspire action through game-based learning.”

The Active Citizen game and accompanying lesson plans are free for all users of Minecraft: Education Edition and available for 35 million users in 112 countries.. A free demo of Active Citizen will soon be available later this month. Further learning materials can be found on the Nobel Peace Center education portal.