The United Nations has gotten into the gaming industry. UNESCO has launched Fast Car: Travelling Safely Around the World, a race game that teaches HIV education and prevention while simultaneously letting players explore the Acropolis, Rapa Nui, Angkor Wat, and many others of the World’s Heritage sites.
Players race on circuits on five continents, on a preliminary level or championship race, explore digital landmarks with photos and information, and at track check-in points, take multiple choice mini quizzes about HIV/AIDS to earn time bonuses. Choose your car, customize it’s color and details, pick a travel destination, and get ready to hit the accelerator. The game is targeted to young people around the age of 16, and is translated into English, Russian, and French. Worldwide, about 3,500 people are freshly infected with the AIDS virus every day. 2 out of 5 of those new cases are young people between the ages of 15 and 24. With the cultural uneasiness about discussing sex, drug use, and issues involving transmission, opening new channels to factual information can have a big impact on awareness and prevention. Anything to get young people talking, especially among themselves and armed with knowledge, is a step forward.
Change by Doing 