Expanding Young Minds through the Power of Play

The Uganda Village Boardgame Convention 2025

In a rural corner of northern Uganda, something extraordinary happens every year.

Hundreds of young people from remote villages gather not for sport or spectacle, but to play. Not with smartphones or tablets, but with good old-fashioned board games.

It might sound simple, but for the students of Chrysalis School and surrounding communities, the Uganda Village Boardgame Convention (UVBGC) is a mind-expanding, life-affirming experience that opens the door to critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, and new possibilities. And now, with your support, this incredible event can return for its sixth year.

This year, UK-based charity Chrysalis Youth Empowerment Network (CYEN) is aiming to raise £5,000 through Crowdfunder to host UVBGC 2025. This is a four-day celebration of strategy, storytelling, imagination, and aspiration. Your contribution can help make this year’s convention the biggest and most inspiring yet.

The Origins of a Bold Idea

The first UVBGC was the brainchild of a student in 2017 who believed that board games could do more than entertain: they could educate, connect and inspire. The event became a highlight of the Chrysalis calendar, and in 2024 it brought together over 400 children from across northern Uganda.

Each year, the impact grows. Not just in numbers, but in stories of transformation. The games spark curiosity, help develop leadership skills, and encourage children to see beyond the boundaries of their daily reality. It’s a rare and beautiful thing: a grassroots learning event that uses play to build purpose.

Education Beyond the Classroom

The convention is part of a much wider mission. CYEN exists to create changemakers; young people who can return to their communities and drive real, meaningful progress.

At the heart of this mission is the Chrysalis School in Lakwana sub-county. Founded in 2022, it serves children from some of Uganda’s most disadvantaged communities. The school offers a holistic curriculum that covers not only academic subjects but also music, athletics, coding and entrepreneurship.

Many of its pupils are part of the Butterfly Project, CYEN’s flagship programme which nurtures talented young people from rural and urban slum communities. These young changemakers are already making waves, from founding NGOs and launching social enterprises to tackling environmental issues and speaking out on youth rights.

Why Board Games?

Play is powerful. It teaches us to take turns, think ahead, solve problems, manage resources and work in teams. For many of these children, board games provide their first structured introduction to systems thinking and strategic decision-making.

And it’s not just about intellect, it’s about imagination. Exposure to a rich variety of games introduces new ideas, cultures and challenges, helping to broaden horizons and build confidence.

As CYEN founder Ben Parkinson puts it:

“There is no better way to learn than through play. Board games show young people there’s a big world beyond their village. They expand mindsets and give a thirst for knowledge that we then nurture through our learning programmes.”

This Year’s Goals

CYEN’s target of £5,000 will fund the four-day event and transport for participating children. The stretch goal of £7,500will also help to fund vital infrastructure upgrades at Chrysalis School, including new water towers, tables and chairs.

The 2025 convention will include:

• Demonstrations and tournaments of a wide variety of board games
• Live-action role play games
• A science exploration camp
• Opportunities for peer mentoring and leadership development

Prizes, Partnerships & Possibilities

To thank donors, CYEN is giving away a special edition of Daybreak, the much-anticipated board game by designer Matt Leacock, creator of Pandemic. It’s a nod to the generosity of the global gaming community, which continues to support CYEN’s work with warmth and imagination.

Whether you’re a gamer, educator, social justice advocate or just someone who believes in giving children a fair shot, your support can be part of something bigger.

Sponsor a Changemaker

Beyond the convention, there’s an ongoing opportunity to sponsor a student at Chrysalis School for just £25/month. These contributions fund education, mentoring, and day-to-day support, giving young people the best chance to rise above the limitations of poverty and become local and national leaders.

To donate or sponsor, visit:
 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/uvbgc2025
 www.cyen.online/sponsorachangemaker

Play for Change

It’s easy to overlook the power of play. But in the right hands, at the right time, it can unlock potential, shift perspectives and spark entire futures.

By helping CYEN raise £5,000 for the 2025 Uganda Village Boardgame Convention, you’re doing more than supporting an event, you’re investing in imagination, in equity, and in the power of young minds to create change.