Minecraft introduces its new ExperienceCraft server, which is a space that invites online interaction amongst youth. It is dedicated to those who have lost their loved ones to create a safe community that provides a sense of support from those who have experienced something similar. The server launched this summer and is made with the help of Experience Camps, which is an overnight summer camp that is nonprofit for youths who have experienced the death of a loved one.
This is a virtual approach to a similar concept, creating an accessible space for kids who need a positive outlet. Katie Salen Tekinbas, a professor of information at UCI states, “We know that active engagement and participation with grief-aware communities of peers is really important to kids who have lost someone important in their lives. Through this amazing partnership, we wanted to explore how a game like Minecraft could provide such a community.”
Image Credit: Experience Camps