In six months, the app called “Walk Safe” was developed.  It delivers life-saving safety lessons to children aged 6-11 through gamification. “Walk Safe” is a purpose-built educational tool designed to confront the grim realities of growing up in a war zone. 💔

And to be absolutely clear: this is not a game. Though the game allows independent gameplay, we encourage parents, educators, and teachers to engage with children during the game. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

This initiative was made possible by our generous donors who understand the gravity of the situation in Ukraine and the danger it poses to children in particular.

From the outset, the children’s mental and physical safety have been at the heart of this project. A Ukrainian child psychologist rigorously reviewed the content, ensuring that every element of the app is both engaging and emotionally safe by eliminating any risk of re-traumatization. Too many children carry the scars of war – whether through loss, destruction, or deeply personal trauma.

To guarantee usability and effectiveness, specialized EORE instructors put the game through rigorous field testing. Their feedback was instrumental in aligning its lessons with real-world safety protocols. Every element was refined and tested until it met the highest standards of reliability.

The game is designed to capture and hold a child’s attention, but the lessons taught are anything but trivial. Children learn to avoid grasslands or sunflower fields where mines and unexploded ordnance may lie hidden and stay clear of damaged buildings that might collapse or contain booby traps.

The app’s gamified elements contain a similar landscape as the children might meet outside their front door. In the game, a child will take a dog out for a walk during which the player learns how to navigate when confronted with dangerous situations and how to spot areas and objects to avoid. To maintain the attention of the child, mini games are introduced giving them the opportunity to earn stars to “buy” clothing for the dog.

Developing the app wasn’t a “launch and leave” project – it was about creating a sustainable tool for one of the world’s most vulnerable audiences.

All donor funding used on this project has been spent in Ukraine for Ukraine.

Project Management and development of the game was jointly spearheaded by DSGU and Ukrainian Deminers Association. We ensured adherence to International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) under UN guidelines. The programming of the game was done by Ukrainian game developers, Racoon Games.

Download in both AppStore and Google Play.