Fnatic and UNICEF. An unlikely pair if there ever was one. But in the name of doing some good, the famous esports organization is going to try and make a change. How? With THE POWER OF GAMING!
Now, UNICEF is the kind of world agency that you don’t really think about every day. And when you do, you immediately associate it with starving children from sub-Saharan Africa.
Or you have seen its fancy logo emblazoned on a footballer’s jersey (Messi has one). And it’s easy not to think about, in your comfy chair, with your gaming setup, thinking if you should splurge more on the next Steam sale. But that is not how everyone lives. And young gamers can come from many backgrounds. Sometimes, they need help, too.
Enter Fnatic. If anything, the illustrious organization is the etalon for the esports pro team. They are good at anything they put their mind to and they really know how to please a crowd. So what are they doing with UNICEFof all things?
For one, both organizations are looking to combat an issue that has been prevalent in esports from its conception. We are, of course, talking about toxicity and cyber-bullying. As the folks from Fnaticthemselves put it: “The only thing worse than having a bad game is being flamed for it.” No matter the game, you can always count on there being one insufferable person who is ready to hurl abuse. It can have a destructive effect on an impressionable young mind. UNICEFis well aware that material aid is only one side of the coin: educating and promoting a healthy attitude is the other.
So, the agency teamed up with superstars Fnaticto raise some awareness and help a few kids along the way. The joint effort will consist of a series of dedicated game streams under the hashtag #GotYourBack. Any funds raised through those streams will go to UNICEF’s work around the world.
The first streams will start on January 23, 2020, and will be bringing some nice star power. The charity campaign will include Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Donovan “Tekkz” Hunt, most likely for some FIFA 20.
But the two organizations are promising more is underway. If you feel like helping out, check out the official campaign website, every little bit helps!
We all get a warm fuzzy feeling from this news, but one has to wonder: will this work? What UNICEFand Fnatic are doing is great, but the gaming community can be notoriously resistant to changing its mindset. Flaming your opponent and even abusive language are seen by some as an expression of free speech, and even as a punishment for those “not good enough”. Granted, it’s a very edgy hill to die on, but trying to promote empathy for the other seems difficult in an environment where harshness is considered the status quo. Still, the team of EarlyGame has nothing but respect for both UNICEFand Fnaticfor doing what’s right.
