Accra: The Climate Sociologist, a youth-led climate education organization, is utilizing games, storytelling, and cultural experiences to engage both young people and adults in meaningful discussions on climate change and action.
According to Ghana News Agency, the recent Youth Game Lab 2026 - Climate and Culture Edition provided a platform for participants aged between 12 and 40 to delve into topics like climate change, climate justice, net zero, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event featured local stories, cultural practices, everyday experiences, and community knowledge as tools for exploration. Held at The Climate Sociologist Studios in Accra, the workshop brought together 30 participants from various educational and professional backgrounds, including junior high schools, tertiary institutions, and the working population.
Moving beyond conventional approaches to climate education, the workshop encouraged participants to become game designers, creating practical tools to communicate climate-related issues. In teams, they engaged in a design process that involved identifying problems, defining players and objectives, developing game mechanics, creating prototypes, and testing and refining their games. These non-digital climate games were crafted using accessible and recycled materials, then subjected to play-testing to ensure engagement, understanding, fairness, and cultural relevance while effectively conveying climate messages.
Ms. Emmaryn Leuzzi, a facilitator at the workshop, emphasized the value of interactive and creative methods in delivering climate education. "The final game pitches demonstrated something important: climate education does not always have to happen through lectures, reports, or presentations. Sometimes, learning can happen through play," she explained.
The workshop also allowed participants to explore how African culture, indigenous knowledge, livelihoods, and community experiences can shape the understanding and communication of climate issues. The organizers believe that integrating local knowledge and cultural perspectives into climate education can make climate conversations more relatable and encourage greater participation, particularly among young people.
The Climate Sociologist continues to focus on climate education through culture, storytelling, the arts, and research. The organization also hosts Green Tales, an annual high school climate competition designed to engage students in climate-related learning and action.