Press Release

27 August 2008

New online game gives children the chance to join the Race Against Global Poverty

Think you know about what’s going on in the world? Put yourself to the test and try out these cool new games!!

Be the first to race against global poverty in three exciting new online games from DFID! You can choose from giving aid by driving your jeep to villages in disaster areas; trading chocolate to get a fair price or competing in a race by answering questions about the world’s poorest countries and what the UK Government is doing to help them. Visit and play at Piczo.

DFID is the part of the UK Government which makes sure aid gets to poor countries and helps to bring poor people out of poverty. They have created some great new games for you to play with your friends and learn about global issues.

In the main game, pick and personalise your character. Then see if your knowledge and game skills are good enough to beat your friends in the quiz and get to the finish line first! Or race against time in the mini-games to sell chocolate for the best price or get aid to war zones! Are you up to the challenge?

The exciting new interactive games also let you download free wallpaper and create artwork to share with your friends. Join in the fun and challenge your friends to a race at Piczo.

Lord Beckett says in “Pirates of the Caribbean 2” that the world is shrinking. This story may have been set hundreds of years ago, but he’s still right – we are becoming more and more linked with other countries. What happens on the other side of the world matters and affects us. So, it’s really important to understand the things that shape the conditions we all live in.

Try out these exciting new games and find out more about global poverty as you play!

For more press information and for quiz or feature ideas, please contact Pippa Ranger at DFID on 020 7023 1607 or Ying Wu at DFID on 0207 023 0183.

Back to top

Notes to editors

• These games are for 11 to 13 year olds. They are accompanied by a free teaching resource for 11 to 13 year olds and 14 to 16 year olds. The resources provide teachers with lesson plans and suggestions for homework and research projects to use in conjunction with the game.
• DFID is leading the UK Government’s fight against global poverty.
• Find out more about global poverty and what the UK Government is doing about it in our new Discovery Zone on the DFID website, launching early September 2008.