SDG Hero wins GeSI Digital with Purpose award for child health education tool

SDG Hero: Defeat the Leuk-Monster was named the Health & Wellbeing Category Winner at the 2026 Digital with Purpose Global Awards in Shenzhen, China. The child-centered digital learning project uses game-based co-creation to help children undergoing leukemia treatment understand health knowledge and self-management.

Why it matters: - The win spotlights a digital health education model built for children facing leukemia treatment and recovery. - The project shows how game-based learning can make complex health information more understandable and engaging. - The award also underscores growing interest in digital tools that combine social impact with technology.

What happened: - Winners of the 2026 Digital with Purpose Global Awards were announced at the Digital with Purpose Global Summit 2026 in Shenzhen, China. - SDG Hero: Defeat the Leuk-Monster was named the Health & Wellbeing Category Winner. - The project was initiated and supported by Boke Foundation. - The awards are organized by the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative, or GeSI. - GeSI recognizes digital solutions that address real-world needs while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The details: - Defeat the Leuk-Monster builds on the broader SDG Hero game-based learning methodology. - The methodology uses play, storytelling and co-creation to help children engage with complex topics. - SDG Hero has mainly focused on sustainability education for young people. - Defeat the Leuk-Monster extends that approach into child health education. - The project translates professional health knowledge into a child-friendly digital learning experience. - The project focuses on children undergoing leukemia treatment and recovery. - The learning design uses game-based interaction to support health awareness and self-management. - A key feature is a “children-for-children” co-creation process. - Children contributed ideas, narratives and creative expressions during development. - Their input helped shape game-based scenarios and interactive experiences. - The project is also designed as a participatory practice that listens to children’s voices and recognizes children as active contributors. - The project uses digital tools and game-based mechanisms to make health education more approachable. - The broader aim is to make professional knowledge easier to understand, more engaging to learn and better suited to children’s needs in sensitive health contexts.

Between the lines: - The award suggests health education is moving beyond one-way instruction toward participatory digital experiences. - The project reflects a broader shift in educational design from adult-led content delivery to child-centered models. - The recognition also aligns with GeSI’s focus on digital solutions that pair technological application with social value. - Boke Foundation says it works on education equity, digital literacy, public health and sustainable development through game-based learning and digital tools.

What’s next: - The recognition could help broaden attention to child-centered digital health education models. - The project may serve as a reference point for future learning tools that blend health guidance, play and co-creation. - Boke Foundation is likely to continue using digital tools and game-based learning for education and social impact projects.