Gaming for Growth
One teen’s journey to self-discovery through an avatar-based mobile phone app
On the bustling streets of New Delhi, Sonia navigates the vibrant colors and sounds of urban life on her way to meet her friends for chai. They are gathering to catch up and show each other their progress in a mobile game called Go Nisha Go.
Go Nisha Go is not just a fun game that teenage girls in India and Nepal like to play on their cell phones — it’s also been a game changer for them to learn about sexual and reproductive health, issues often considered taboo.
Social norms in India perpetuate a culture of silence and shame around discussing sexual and reproductive health, which only increases information gaps on those topics. However, the widespread use of mobile phones among Indian youth presents an opportunity for girls to bypass gatekeepers and directly access the information and products they need online.
Developed by women-owned small business Howard Delafield International with support from USAID, the game is available for free on Google Play and has been downloaded more than 500,000 times.
Until she downloaded the app, Sonia says it was difficult for her to learn about these topics.
“At first, I didn’t know much about sexual and reproductive health, because we were not taught a lot about it in school and there is no space in the family to talk about it,” Sonia said.
India has one of the highest global rates of early marriage, with 23% of marriages involving a girl under 18 — a practice that often results in early childbearing and poor sexual and reproductive health.
Once married, girls are more likely to experience early pregnancy and dangerous complications during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as domestic violence and sexually transmitted infections like HIV.
Societal pressures can drive adolescents into early marriage.
Go Nisha Go explores important topics like menstruation and menstrual products, and consent and contraceptives. It also includes in-game linkages to products and services and a chat bot where girls can ask questions.
With Nisha as their avatar, game players can practice making decisions in realistic scenarios that can have broad implications for their relationships and career planning.
Through interactive gameplay in relatable storylines and informative resources, Go Nisha Go acts as a catalyst for change.
Sonia found sanctuary in the game, where she could explore topics surrounding sexual and reproductive health at her own pace and convenience in privacy.
Go Nisha Go gave Sonia the confidence to engage in important conversations with her parents. When she completes her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue her dream of a graduate degree in psychology.
Sonia now uses what she has learned to educate her friends, encouraging them to play the game, too.
Wanting to have more of an impact, Sonia served as one of five peer educators in Delhi to help users deep-dive into the game’s content with facilitated discussions in the summer of 2023.
“As a youth leader for this game, I am happy and confident about making people more aware about the topic,” Sonia said.
Sonia hopes that Go Nisha Go continues to empower youth as they explore the maze of adolescence, learn to embrace their uniqueness, and continue on their journeys of self-discovery.
“The game becomes a good tool for us to get and spread knowledge about sexual and reproductive health,” Sonia said. “Whichever girl or boy has played it can speak more confidently about their health and dreams.”
Through her advocacy in encouraging others to play the game, Sonia is not only shaping her own future, but also inspiring others to break the silence surrounding sexual and reproductive health.
With Go Nisha Go at her side, Sonia is helping to empower the next generation of informed Indian teens and girls.
The Game of Choice, Not Chance Initiative, implemented by women-owned small business Howard Delafield International, was selected as a winner of USAID’s 2023 Digital Development Awards.
