Cégep students launch STI education game
The On Cégep de Sherbrooke launched the official version of the game ‘Attrapez le tous’ (Catch ‘em all) as students and staff gathered at the Artishow to learn more about the student-developed game and try it out.
The game was entirely developed and designed by three students from the Sciences, Letters and Arts program, Maxence Croteau, Alexis Rioux-chevalier and Emile Rioux-chevalier. Surprised to learn that sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIS) were on the rise in the Estrie, the group took the initiative during the winter session to develop a game that would raise awareness and inform the student community about STBBIS, while emphasizing a playful and humorous approach.
The idea developed and has been the subject of several improvements made in light of the comments expressed by players during the many "focus groups" held last winter. The final version launched on September 13 includes 90 cards and the goal of the game is to infect opponents in wild battles.
The game targets a large clientele composed of inveterate board game players, young people and parents. It is also a tool for dialogue and intervention that can be useful for the education and health sectors. Discussions are also under way to adapt versions of the game for schools and public health network clients.
The Cégep de Sherbrooke believed in the positive effects of this game and did not hesitate to support the students in their ambitious project, providing advice from the Director of Student and Community Affairs, Martin Lambert, in addition to receiving financial support from the Cégep and the Student Association to begin printing the official version of the game.
"The Cégep is very proud to be associated with this great initiative that not only tackles a major problem for young
people, but is also an incredible entrepreneurial laboratory for the students involved in the project, " Lambert says.
A committee composed of, Philosophy Teacher and Sciences, Letters and Arts coordinator Daniel Hébert, Physics teacher Patrick Labrecque, and Psychology Teacher Alexandre Genest, was also established to support the students in the stages of production, in particular with regard to the protection of copyright and distribution. The CÉGEP COOP and the student company C3 Estrie have also come to assist in the marketing and promotion of the game.
The game has sparked growing interest since its early days and the creators were awarded a bursary from the J. Armand Bombardier Fund in addition to being proclaimed the Mérite estrien by the newspaper La Tribune. The trio also climbed the echelons of the Osentreprendre competition to reach the regional final. Even the mayor of Sherbrooke,. Bernard Sévigny, addressed a testimonial letter to the three creators to highlight the quality of their initiative.
Hébert considers this project to be a perfect fit for the curiosity, creativity and rigor of the program's valued qualities: "These students took advantage of these three qualities and have used all the resources available around them to develop their project. The Arts, Science and Letters program is proud of this achievement, which reflects an atmosphere conducive to student initiatives."
Co-creator Maxence Croteau told a press conference that, "We can all make a difference in our environment. We are inviting students to go ahead and start projects, even if they seem to be a crazy ideas at the start. »
The game is currently on sale at the Cégep de Sherbrooke COOP, at the Université de Sherbrooke, at the Griffon and L'oeil de Chat boutiques, as well as at the Jean Coutu pharmacy in Lennoxville, the Uniprix on the King East and Galt West.