The Emergent Media Center at Champlain College was recently awarded a $200,000 grant from the United Nations Population Fund to create an electronic game for young boys in developing nations targeted at preventing violence against women. This will be a global initiative, with an initial focus on South Africa.

A team of 15 students majoring in e-game design, programming, and art and animation, marketing, e-biz, software engineering, and education left Friday (Aug. 22) for a 10-day research and information-gathering trip to Cape Town, South Africa. "While there, the student will begin tackling this complex and challenging project," according to Ann DeMarle, director of the project and Champlain College's Emergent Media Center.

DeMarle and Champlain College's Emergent Media Center (EMC) staff - Ray McCarthy Bergeron , Sarah Jerger, and Heather Kelley, newly hired Creative Director for the project and new Marketing faculty member, Megan Frenzen, will accompany the Champlain College students.

"The purpose of the trip is to conduct extensive cultural research focusing on consumer behavior, education, game play, art styles and influences, interpersonal relations, and gender inequalities," DeMarle said. While in Cape Town, students and faculty will meet and conduct focus groups and interviews with school children, teachers, university students, victims of abuse, aid workers, media specialists, political figures, and many other critical individuals and groups.

Champlain College team members include: Dan Bergeron of Colchester, Vt.; Heather Conover of Sharon, Mass.; Brian George of Windham, NH; Bryan Hare of Windsor, Vt.; Casey Hopkins of Trumbull, Conn.; Amanda Jones of Cornish, NH; Wesley Knee of Moultonborough, NH; Nichole Magoon of Ascutney, Vt.; Lauren Nishikawa of Wilmot, NH; Jaimie Olmstead of Peru, NY; Alex Schwartz of Loudonville, NY; Keith Tatarczuk of Exeter, NH; Robert Witbeck of Billerica, Mass.; Bill Wixon of Falmouth, Mass.; and Ashley Bessette of New Haven, Vt.

"This really is a trip of a lifetime for these students," DeMarle added.

The Champlain College EMC received this grant in conjunction with the Population Media Center who works across the globe using entertainment-education for social change. Elaine Young, Champlain College Marketing and E-biz faculty member is also a faculty advisor to the project.

While on the trip, many of the team members plan to write about their experience on the EMC's official project BLOG and on the Facebook Group.

• Visit the EMC's official UN Project Blog: http://emc-gamestakeonvaw.blogspot.com
• Visit the Facebook Group page Champlain's UNITED NATIONS South Africa Project
  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21917511475&ref=mf
• Visit the Emergent Media Center's general Blog: http://emergentmediacenter.blogspot.com/

Champlain College, a private baccalaureate institution, was founded in 1878. Located in Burlington, Champlain College is a national leader in educating students to become skilled practitioners, effective professionals and global citizens. It was ranked in the top tier of Best Comprehensive Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges 2008.

Champlain has approximately 2,000 students, presenting 32 states and 17 countries. It has study abroad programs that include campuses in Dublin, Ireland and Montreal, Quebec. For more information, visit www.champlain.edu.