Photo by Mark Stedman
Students from Ballymakenny College in County Louth have been recognised at the national final of Trócaire’s Game Changers competition, an annual initiative that encourages young people to explore global justice issues through creative game design.
Run by Trócaire’s Development Education team, the competition promotes peer learning along with empathic and critical thinking, and is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This year’s final took place at The Helix in Dublin, bringing together students from across the country. A record 273 entries were submitted, with just 34 teams progressing to the final stage.
Ballymakenny College claimed top honours in the post primary category with their board game Filtrace, created by third year students. The project stood out for its focus on the realities of the climate crisis and the need for global action. The team’s work impressed fellow finalists, who ultimately voted to award them first place in their category.
Students across the competition explored themes such as extreme weather, inequality and displacement, turning complex global issues into engaging and interactive games. Research indicates that concern about climate change is widespread among young people, with 97 per cent expressing worry about its long term effects.
Sean Farrell, CEO of Trócaire, said:
“Young people in Ireland understand that the climate crisis will shape their futures in significant ways. What we are seeing through Game Changers is a generation that is informed, engaged and ready to act.
The creativity and insight shown by students this year is remarkable. With 273 entries, the level of competition was incredibly high, and reaching the final is a major accomplishment. These young people are not only learning about global challenges, but they are also stepping up and showing leadership in how we respond to them.”
Primary School Category
• 1st: Monkstown ETNS with their game ‘The School Run’
• 2nd: Ember from Spa Primary School Co. Down with their game ‘Keep Earth Cool’
• 3rd: Scoil Íde, Co.Galway with their game ‘The Road to Sustainability/Somalia’
Post-Primary School Category
• 1st: Ballymakenny College, Co. Louth with their game ‘Filtrace’
• 2nd: St Dominic’s Grammar School, Belfast with their game ‘Broken Balance’ one of two entries from the school.
• 3rd: St Marys High School, Midleton, Cork with their game ‘Earth on Edge’
Youth Group Category
•1st: Celbridge Girls Guides with their game ‘Ice Breaker’
•2nd: Foroige Youth Group, Blanchardstown, D13 with their game ‘Gaza Catastrophe
• 3rd: Afterschool CDYS Cork, Cork with their game ‘Wildlife Checkers’
Registrations for the 2027 programme will open shortly at https://www.trocaire.org/our-work/educate/game-changers/
