What would it be like to make decisions that people's lives depend upon? To be responsible for thousands of homeless people? To race against time to get aid to where it is desperately needed? How would you decide who got what help.... and when? How would you raise enough money to do it all?

Now's your chance to find out with EQ, an interactive, play-by-email Aid and Development Organisation simulation game. Either as an individual, group, or as a class, you’ll set up your own aid organisation and take on the task of distributing aid and raising funds when an earthquake hits somewhere deep inside a developing nation. To succeed you will have to face and overcome logistical nightmares, resource constraints, natural hazards, looters and more.

EQ is a simulation game played by email.

Each week on Monday, for four weeks, you’ll receive a main email telling you about the situation, and confronting you with several decisions on how you will raise funds, choose who to help, set policies on your aid efforts and solve logistical problems. You’ll also receive additional emails with news updates to help with your decisions. You’ll have five school days to make your decisions, which you will post onto a secure site by Friday. You can also submit extra work by email to gain bonus points.

Each week the Leader Board describes the scores to aim for. As the game progresses, you can compare your scores with those of other “organisations”.

More information on how EQ works see "Classroom Tips">>

EQ is designed for Social Studies or Information Technology classes (teenagers or adults can also play as individuals). Players under 10 years may need some assistance.


The game runs for four weeks.

First, decide your organisation’s name. This is the name that will appear on the Leader Board next to your results.

When you have a name, go to the EQ Registration form and fill it in before the closing date. It is not possible to start the game late.

When we receive your registration, we’ll confirm your player details and password, plus include instructions for how to post your answers.



Your school/class/individual name will be used only for administration of the EQ game. It will not appear on the site. Your results will be identified by your chosen organisation name.