In Bosnia and Herzegovina, children with Down syndrome are using a video game to safely navigate the internet
The Atlas Times automated desk · Published
Updated
Original reporting by Nurbek Bekmurzaev · Global Voices
Adapted source excerpt: CC BY 3.0; adapted summary Terms and license
Source published
Being able to use the internet safely is also about being able to participate in everyday life.
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Summary
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a group of IT professionals, developers, and designers has created a video game called SafeClick to help children with Down syndrome navigate the internet safely. The country has approximately 550 to 700 children and adolescents with Down syndrome, who are often underserved by existing digital tools that rely heavily on complex text and abstract explanations. This often leads to digital isolation, as caregivers tend to limit internet use rather than teach safe navigation. SafeClick, which features a virtual assistant named Sol the Owl, uses simple stories, familiar situations, and game mechanics to allow users to practice responses to scenarios such as receiving suspicious messages or experiencing cyberbullying. The game is designed for mobile devices and avoids punishing users for mistakes by explaining the outcome and offering another chance. The developers, who have prior experience with educational games like Eureka and Lea & Leo, worked closely with educators and parents to refine the content. The project is part of the Digital Spark granting scheme, implemented by the Metamorphosis Foundation and TechSoup in partnership with CIVICUS. Through this process, the team learned that accessibility and privacy should be integrated from the beginning of development rather than added later. The game is currently awaiting approval on major app stores, and the team plans to launch it in the media and continue developing digital tools for marginalized groups.
Key points
- SafeClick is a mobile video game developed in Bosnia and Herzegovina to teach digital safety to children with Down syndrome.
- The game features a virtual assistant named Sol the Owl and uses visual scenarios to help users practice responding to online risks like suspicious messages and cyberbullying.
- The project was initiated by a group of IT professionals and designers who identified a gap in accessible digital tools for the 550-700 children with Down syndrome in the country.
- The game is designed to avoid punishing users for mistakes, instead explaining outcomes and allowing them to retry, based on feedback from educators and parents.
- SafeClick is currently awaiting approval on the App Store and Google Play, with the team arranging mentoring sessions to promote the game.
- The developers shifted their perspective on accessibility, recognizing that safe internet use is essential for everyday participation and community inclusion rather than just a technical interface issue.
- The project is part of the Digital Spark granting scheme, a collaboration between the Metamorphosis Foundation, TechSoup, and CIVICUS under the Digital Democracy Initiative.
- Future goals include publishing the game, launching media campaigns, and developing a broader portfolio of digital tools for marginalized groups.
Context and interpretation
The project addresses the digital isolation of children with cognitive disabilities by replacing abstract, text-heavy safety guides with interactive, visual learning tools, thereby fostering independent participation in digital life.
Source: Global Voices