Innovations for Youth Capacity and Engagement (IYCE) aims to utilize the power of innovative technology, including serious games, to empower, engage and educate youth and assist them in their transition to adulthood. April 2012 update.

1. IYCE Program Update
24 April 2012

2. IYCE Summary
IYCE Objectives:
• Utilize the power of innovative technology, including
serious games, to empower, engage and educate youth
and assist them in their transition to adulthood.
Concept:
• City building game on Facebook
• Players focus on building a healthy city
Development Outcomes
• Increase civic engagement among target beneficiaries
• Increase capacity for systems thinking as a essential life
skill for Jordanian youth

3. Project Update
• Completed first draft of high concept
document
• Jordanian developer, Aranim, selected
• Country Manager – Jordanian PR agency, Al
Nasher, selected
• Civic engagement SME – Rama Halaseh of
NDI, selected
• Relief International running the Games
Working Group

4. Summary of High Concept Document
• Game Name: Our City
• Back story: You are a city council member
who has been given authority by the mayor of
a new city in Jordan to help build it up into a
thriving metropolis.
• Hook: Build the ideal Jordanian city to express
your vision of the future of Jordan

5. Summary of Theory of Change
Facebook game where youth learn how to build healthy
communities/cities
Critical components:
• Grounded in Systems Thinking: City building games allow players to
“...explore strategies for managing complex system such as cities…while
contending with multiple variables” (Raphael et al, 2010)
• Fosters Effective Civic Engagement of Youth: Players can complete
quests where they can “…make a difference in the civic life of (their)
communities and develop the combination of knowledge, skills, values
and motivation to make that difference” (Tom Ehrlich)
However, will the skills youth learn and demonstrate in this game transfer
over into the real world?

6. 2012 Plan and Milestones
• Game design document completed by 14 May
• Develop and launch game by late summer
• Widen and deepen games working group
involvement