EStars led an esports workshop Abu Dhabi as part of CMA Media Summer Camp at Yas Creative Hub. The session welcomed learners aged eight to twelve for a fast paced day of discovery. Teams took part in a knowledge game then moved into Create a Game for Good. With mentor support they shaped titles genres and stories that carried clear social values such as friendship teamwork empathy and inclusion.
Hosted in the Creative Lab at the Yas Creative Hub, the session welcomed a group of enthusiastic learners aged 8–12, many of whom were being introduced to the world of esports for the very first time.
Hands-on Learning and Game Creation
The day kicked off with a high-energy Jeopardy-style quiz designed to test and grow students’ knowledge of esports, gaming culture and digital wellbeing. Working in groups, students answered questions, conferring and deliberating, building team spirit and engaging in healthy competition!
At the heart of the workshop was the “Create a Game for Good” challenge — a hands-on design task encouraging students to develop original game concepts with a meaningful message at their core. Working in groups, students were asked to create a concept for a game that promotes positive community values such as friendship, teamwork, empathy or inclusion. In a reflection of today’s most pressing issues, several groups chose to build games around real-world challenges like climate change, recycling and environmental protection.
Students were supported by the EStars team and the camp mentors as they developed their game’s title, genre, characters and storylines — all while incorporating the value they had chosen. Posters and visuals brought their designs to life, with hand-drawn maps, characters and mystery items proudly displayed.
From adventure games that rewarded kindness to customisable robots that cleaned oceans, the diversity of ideas was impressive — as was the students’ ability to articulate their vision.
Outcomes and Lasting Impact
To conclude the design activity, students were invited to present their game concepts to the group. Nearly every student chose to speak, with team members confidently sharing different parts of their design and explaining how their game would make a positive impact. The room became a showcase of creativity, confidence and purpose — and a reminder of how powerful a student voice can be when given the platform and support.
The workshop not only introduced students to the esports industry and the career opportunities it offers, but also encouraged them to view gaming as a positive, values-driven space — one where skills like collaboration, empathy and leadership are just as important as technical ability and gameplay.
Feedback from CMA Abu Dhabi was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the session’s energy, inclusivity and ability to both educate and inspire.
EStars is proud to have been part of this year’s programme and hopes to see many of these talented young learners continue their journey into esports.
Further Reading:
- Esports Isn’t the Future — It’s Now. NAS Dubai Students Prove It with EStars BTEC
- EStars Inspires the Next Generation of Esports Enthusiasts
- What If Your Classroom Helped You Breathe Easier? Step Inside The UAE’s Most Mindful Classrooms With ESTARS
- THE EStars CLASSROOM OF THE FUTURE
- Step Into the World of Esports With The EStars Certificates
- Powering Esports in the UAE – How EStars is Revolutionising Talent Acquisition in Esports
- Levelling Up Learning: Esports Education in UAE Comes Alive at Yas Creative Hub