• Middle School/Grades 6-8
• High School/Grades 9-12

North America Scholastic Esports Federation's (NASEF) MENAcraft gathers young people from the United States and the Middle East and North Africa region in a safe, neutral, and inspiring online community, blending play and learning for a cultural and language exchange.

By creating scholastic esports clubs, learning from STEM professionals, playing team games, and building in Minecraft, participants develop key skills with an understanding of how those translate into workforce opportunities. They interact with peers around the world, building empathy and cross-cultural understanding as they cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship experience.

Activities

Young people ages 13-18 create clubs and collaborate on building their Club Charter, Code of Conduct, and Business Plan with goals and objectives. They also participate in moderated open-ended play in Minecraft and esports games, structured learning and cultural exchange experiences, and a dynamic Speaker Series providing career and cultural insights.

Program Details

• Number of Participants: 460
• Participant Age Group: Middle school/Grades 6-8; High school/Grades 9-12
• Partners in the United States: Pennsylvania; Texas – TexSEF
• Project Duration: April 2022 to June 2023

MENAcraft is implemented by the North America Scholastic Esports Federation and is supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). JCSVEI is a U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program administered by the Aspen Institute.