“If you do something in a video game and then it shows up in real life, you find that you have this power to change your community, change the world, and you start participating in it. other projects,” said Mr. Gastelum, the first person in the history of the United Nations to hold the title of “Video Game Expert”.
Mother’s pride
This skill set has been put to good use in the workshops he leads, where young people redesign public space drawings on the Minecraft platform – where players build and navigate the world. their own virtual environment – and get a chance to see those plans come to fruition, transforming neglected, unwelcome urban environments into safe, vibrant, and popular areas of town .
“We go to the community, teach them how to play Minecraft, and then the community members are the ones who change the public space into what they want or what they need in Minecraft,” he said. “It’s the best job in the world! I’m playing video games, I’m traveling, I’m meeting people, and I’m teaching. I am improving the planet”.
Looking back on his childhood growing up in Mexico City, Mr. Gastelum laughs as he recalls how his mother once scolded him for wasting screen time. Now, she’s proud of the fact that he’s more than just a gamer – he’s a game changer.
Workshops organized by Block by Block Foundation, cooperation between Microsoft, Mojang (Minecraft maker) and UN-HabitatUnited Nations program on human settlements.
Access all regions
The foundation says it has worked on more than 50 projects in 30 countries since 2012, giving millions of young people access to the public spaces they designed in Minecraft.
“Millions of millions of people play Minecraft,” said Shipra Narang Suri, Director of UN-Habitat’s Urban Practice Branch. “And we have really allowed children aged 6 to 7 to express their views on the redesign of public spaces. And then we help put it in the right design and take it to the city leadership and make sure it gets done. “
