BREAKAWAY IS AN INITIATIVE TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS (VAWG) THAT COMBINES A COMMUNITY-LED EDUCATIONAL MODEL WITH AN ENGAGING AND SOCIALLY IMPACTFUL VIDEO GAME KNOWN AS BREAKAWAY. BY HOSTING EDUCATIONAL YOUTH CAMPS AND TRAINING FACILITATORS, OUR TEAM STRIVES TO IMPACT ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS
REGARDING VAWG IN ORDER TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS OF GENDER EQUITY, PERSONAL SAFETY, MOBILITY, AND EQUITABLE DECISION-MAKING POWER.
What is BREAKAWAY and what do we do?
BREAKAWAY is a free, web-hosted, interactive video game containing a narrative that uses soccer as a global language to educate boys and girls worldwide about Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), gender equality, and respect. The game was designed for the United Nations Population Fund as part of the UNiTE Campaign to End Violence Against Women.
Since its debut during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the game has been played in 180 countries and translated into 4 languages. An accompanying facilitator’s guide contains group activities, activity sheets and discussion topics that encourage dialogue regarding the sensitive issues that are brought to light in the video game.
An educational camp model that combines the video game and facilitators guide was developed and implemented in Hebron, Palestine in 2012 and Sonsonate, El Salvador in 2013 and 2014. A 2013 research study proves BREAKAWAY to be an effective, transformative tool to address this rampant problem.
BREAKAWAY has already changed the lives of thousands of children. Through continued efforts, we hope to bring BREAKAWAY to thousands more and enact long-lasting change!