"Playing is not just entertainment, but also a way to grow and learn."
Niko Strawberry, 26, who runs the Minecraft club at EXEN esports in Jyväskylä, is building a future where games are part of young people's growth and learning. Originally from Tampere, Mansikka is finishing his studies to become a classroom teacher at the University of Jyväskylä and sees huge potential in gaming as an educational tool. In the Minecraft club at Exen Esports, she helps children learn cooperation skills and respect for others' work - important skills that carry far beyond games.
Strawberry says that although teaching was not her childhood dream, the industry offers the very elements she enjoys. "I like the interaction and working with people," she says. Although her initial ambition was to become a physical education teacher, becoming a classroom teacher opened up a new world for her - in particular the opportunity to combine playing and teaching.
Exen's Minecraft club is an important platform for Strawberry, through which she brings together gamified learning and community. The children in the club get to create collaborative projects, such as building cities, while practising teamwork. "Minecraft Education is a great tool for guided activities. It allows children to practice working together, planning and problem solving in a safe environment," Strawberry explains. The aim is not only to have fun, but also to develop safe learning environments.
According to Mansika, the game offers important lessons that can also be used in everyday life. She sees the community aspect of games as a major benefit when they are delivered live - Exen's clubs teach children how to deal with their emotions, work as a team and respect others. "Playing games teaches emotional processing, interaction skills and teamwork," Strawberry stresses. She believes that children's own involvement, for example in creating rules, plays an important role: "When children are involved in creating rules themselves, they become more committed to them."
At Exen Esports, Strawberry is also building a longer player path for those who want to become competitive players. The facilities and equipment provided by Exen will create a framework in Jyväskylä where young people can see what racing can offer from an early age. Exen also offers a path for goal-oriented players in the form of academy team activities. Such coached environments differ from playing at home, as they emphasise cooperation and interaction. "Exen's player pathway aims to enable young people to develop their skills and learn what competitive gaming can offer at its best," Strawberry says.
According to Mansika, Exen's goals are clear: to provide young people with a local, safe pathway to play, where they can grow and develop in their teamwork and in their own playing. Exen's long-term dream is that Jyväskylä will produce top players who will rise to the top of the world in the future. Exen is grateful to its main partners, in particular OP for Central Finland, which supports the implementation of club activities and also offers low-income families the opportunity to participate in games activities.
From 2025, Exen will expand to other games, including Fortnite.
Find out more about EXEN's club activities and sign up from here.
Read more about the cooperation between OP Central Finland and Exen from here.