In the U.S., 85% of teens report playing video games; this has become a part of daily life for millions and is particularly prevalent in the younger generation. This provides a new platform to mobilize and educate young people on, which charities and content creators have started to make use of. Through challenges and games that attract enormous audiences, millions have been raised for causes that help alleviate global poverty, creating opportunities for gaming to be a great success as an activist.

Stream for Humanity

In January 2025, the French streamer AnimeMaTue organized “Stream for Humanity,” a 48 hour charity streaming event on Twitch. The stream featured many prominent French streamers like Squeezie, Michou and Gotaga, who engaged in challenges, gaming sessions and tournaments, all while raising awareness for the impactful work of their chosen organization.

The event was a huge success, raising more than $4 million for Médecins Sans Frontières, a French humanitarian aid organization and their work specifically in four conflict zones: Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The event attracted more than 560,000 spectators and accumulated 2,4000 donations per minute at it’s peak.

Jingle Jam

Since its creation in 2011, Jingle Jam – a charity set up by hosts of the YouTube channel Yogscast – has raised more than $33 million for various charities. The streaming occurs around Christmas time every year on Twitch and has attracted more than 40 million views in the last 4 years. In 2024, the event raised more than $2 million for eight charities. This includes War Child, an organization focusing on reaching children as early as possible in situations of conflict. Advocating for children’s rights, access to education, safety and ability to heal is at the heart of their mission.

Care Gaming

The #CAREgaming program partners with gamers, streamers and organizations to support and raise awareness of other CARE initiatives. The charity has given humanitarian relief and introduced poverty-fighting programs in 121 countries, which has helped more than 53 million people.

From its #CAREgaming initiative, the organization raised more than $2 million, which has helped support disaster relief in areas like Ukraine, Syria and Turkey. Professional esports and entertainment brand FaZe Clan have used this programme to contribute to charity in their tournaments, most famously their #FIGHT2FUND online tournament they organized in 2020.

Dan and Phil Streams for Palestine

Dan and Phil, one of the U.K.’s most iconic gaming duos, have done many charitable streams, including their birthday stream for Phil that raised more than $100,000. This impactful amount came from a stream of less than two hours, showing how impactful gaming as an activist can be when awareness is given to important world issues.

All money went to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which is a humanitarian medical relief organization working to provide free medical care to injured and ill children. Since their founding in 1991, they’ve been able to send more than 2000 children abroad for free medical care and have bought humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of children who would otherwise not receive it. The organization is a nonprofit and donations like this this are extremely important for their work to continue.

Games Done Quick

This is a series of charity video game marathons that include speed runners playing games as fast as they can in order to raise money for various nonprofit organizations. They run multiple events per year, including the Summer Games Done Quick, which raises money for Doctors Without Borders. Since these week-long marathons began in 2010, more than $54 million has been raised for charity.

Their chosen charity, Doctors Without Borders, takes action to save lives in areas of conflict, natural disasters and epidemics. They provide medical care in more than 70 countries, in 2023 admitting more than 1.3 million people into their hospitals. They hold millions of consultations at hospitals, mobile clinics and refugee camps, advocating for every person’s right to medical care.

The Future

Gaming and streaming have become a huge way to raise money for charities, as well as awareness for world issues. When popular gamers and influential people in the gaming industry speak out, people listen, leading to massive ripple effects in wider communities. Utilizing gaming as a way to help poverty creates opportunities for gaming as an activist to have great effects on the world. This also allows audiences, especially young people to consume content and education in the ways they prefer.

– Abigail Gadsden

Abigail is based in Kent, UK and focuses on Good News, Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr