This project will help educate children in Thailand and Cambodia about OCSEA and trafficking through a culturally sensitive digital ‘serious’ game. It will focus on cutting-edge technological tools to prevent and respond to online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Existing research combined with the local knowledge of partners ECPAT International and A21 (Thailand), has identified that OCSEA and sex trafficking is an ongoing problem in Thailand and Cambodia. The digital game will highlight the dangers of online platforms which recruit children and young people for sex trafficking and other exploitative practices such as grooming for explicit webcam filming.
The digital game will follow the stories of two child avatars, May and Bay, both subtly groomed online in different ways. Designed for children aged 8-14, there will be no sexually explicit material, but the game will have decision points and ‘gaming’ features where players will be rewarded for keeping characters safe. Key professional stakeholders in Cambodia and Thailand will be trained to use the game to educate children and young people in schools and community groups.