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Registrations are now open for Game Changers 2025
Game Changers is a programme for young people who want to learn about issues affecting our world today. Game changers encourages young people to engage with global justice issues by creating either board, card or digital games. It is open to young people from primary, post primary and youth settings.
To support young people, teachers and youth workers through this process, the Trócaire development education team are available to deliver free workshops in schools and youth groups. The workshops explore what global justice means, and introduces young people to games design techniques. Young people then design their own games exploring global justice issues, such as climate change, gender equality or conflict and enter it in the Game Changers competition. In 2023, we received over 220 entries from primary schools, post primary schools and youth groups.
You can also download a free educator guide below.
Step One:
Download and include a Competition Entry Form with each game you are submitting, available here.
Step Two:
Digital Games: Please ensure that all digital games are created in a format accessible to Trócaire staff for review (Scratch, Minecraft Education, etc.). Contact Trócaire for guidance if required. All digital games can be entered through the following email address: [email protected]
Board/Card games: Please ensure that the original game is sent to the relevant Trócaire office in either Belfast or Maynooth. Please ensure that a competition entry form is included with each entry. Please note: Games can be damaged in transport and are difficult to store. Try to ensure that your game is a manageable size, and posted to our office using appropriate packaging.
All NI games – Trócaire Development Education Team, 50 King Street, Belfast, BT1 6AD
All ROI games – Trócaire Development Education Team, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
The deadline for 2024/25 competition entries is Friday 4th April 2025. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]. Please note that it is not possible to return games that have been entered in the competition.
You can find out more about previous years winners of Game Changers here
In the sixth year of Game Changers, 223 games were entered into the competition. Games explored themes such as climate action, sea pollution, gender equality and sustainability. The development education team reviewed all games, and 30 games were shortlisted for the final even in the Helix, Dublin, which was held on April 23rd2024. Primary schools, post primary schools and youth groups from across the island of Ireland were represented at this event. Students and young people had the opportunity to play the other games in their category as well as showcasing their own game to their peers. Young people then voted on their favourite games. Congratulations to this year’s winners and to all the young people and educators who participated in Game Changers 2024.
Game Changers 2024 Winners
Primary Category
First Place – The Courtroom – St Mary’s National School, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
Second Place – Global Run – Castaheany Educate Together National School, Ongar, Dublin 15.
Third Place – Schoolnopoly – Springfield Primary School, Belfast, Co Antrim
Post Primary
First Place – Fun Farm – St Dominics Grammer School, Belfast, Co Antrim
Second Place – Growopoly – Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan. Co Dublin
Third Place – Climate Battle – Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, Belfast, Co Antrim.
Youth Category
First Place – Transition to Green – Foróige Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
Second Place – Consequences – Celbridge Liffey Guides Unit.
Third Place – Bee Game – Sphere Game
In the fifth year of Game Changers, 226 games were entered into the competition. Games explored themes such as climate action, sea pollution, gender equality and sustainability. The development education team reviewed all games, and 26 games were shortlisted for the final even in the Helix which was held on May 22nd. Primary schools, post primary schools and youth groups from all across the island of Ireland were represented at this event. Students and young people had the opportunity to play the other games in their category aswell as showcasing their own game to their peers. Young people then voted on their favourite games. Congratulations to this year’s winners and to all of the young people and educators who participated in Game Changers 2023.
Game Changers 2023 Winners
Primary Category
First Place – The River Run – Nicker National School, Pallasgreen, Co.Limerick
Second Place – Got to Go – Balbriggan Educate Together National School, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
Third Place – The Game of Goals – Scoil Eoin Primary School, Inishannon, Co Cork
Post Primary
First Place – A Blobs Rights- Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan. Co Dublin
Second Place – Headbanz Global Goals Edition – St Dominics Grammer School Belfast
Third Place – World Wide Worries – Loreto College, Cavan
Youth Category
First Place – Ethiopia Aid – Foróige Blanchardstown
Second Place – Unjustified Youth Work Ireland Tipperary Cashel Youth Project
Youth Winners: Forόige, Blanchardstown with their game Ethiopia Aid
PP Winners: Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin with their game ‘A Blob’s Rights’ exploring human rights.
