Suramula: How to Survive a Flood

Gameplay Rooted in Reality

Roaring water floods the streets. A quest for safety begins! Is it reality or a game? 

For 15-year-old Salome Noniashvili from Georgia's Kaspi municipality, it's both. Co-author of the online game Suramula, Salome harnesses the power of play to teach people how to navigate climate disasters.

Salome's hometown faces annual climate challenges, with the Suramula River transforming into a destructive force. Drawing from real events, the game incorporates footage and photos from past floods. In their attempts to flee, players encounter challenges mirroring the struggles of real-life scenarios.

"To escape the flood, players need to climb high buildings. As they go up, they face new challenges, creating an immersive gaming experience."

Salome Noniashvili, Young Climate Ambassador and co-author of the Suramula online game

Accessible through the gaming portal Roblox, the Suramula game transcends virtual boundaries, driving a climate awareness campaign aimed at the youth in Kaspi Municipality. Salome and her friends organized information meetings and seminars, engaging over 50 young participants. These events were focused on disaster management, community resilience, and green entrepreneurship, fostering an understanding of environmental challenges and inspiring youth to actively contribute to green solutions.

Photo: UNDP Georgia/Giorgi Shengelia

From Camp to Action: Young Climate Ambassadors

In the summer of 2023, Salome Noniashvili's visionary initiatives took root at the "Climate Ambassadors" educational youth camp. Alongside 50 bright and keen climate activists from all corners of Georgia, Salome thrived in a friendly environment, offering young minds a platform to learn, connect, and refine their leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

The transformative experience left camp participants brimming with newfound knowledge about environmental challenges and a passionate determination to shape a sustainable future. Many, including Salome, embarked on projects addressing environmental issues in their home regions.

"The summer camp for Young Climate Ambassadors is the realization of my values, experiences, and the knowledge I eagerly sought."

Salome Noniashvili, Young Climate Ambassador and co-author of the Suramula online game

Nurturing Environmental Champions

The Climate Ambassadors camp is a joint initiative of UNDP and the Environmental Information and Education Centre of Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. The camp aims to raise climate awareness across the country, engaging local communities and youth in national climate action.

In 2022 and 2023, the camp welcomed 110 young climate activists, nurturing a generation of environmental champions.

Through innovative initiatives like the Suramula game, young leaders like Salome Noniashvili are actively contributing to a sustainable and resilient future.

This pivotal work is part of the UNDP’s broader climate programme, supported by the Green Climate Fund, and the governments of Georgia, Sweden, and Switzerland.