APPS ON THE FLOOR

Name of App: Meena

Developer: MCC & Riseup Labs

Publisher: UNICEF Bangladesh

Platforms: Android

Size: 7.5 MB

Genre: Game

Rating: 7.8 / 10

UNICEF Bangladesh launched the first 'Meena Game' for all android mobile devices through google play store and at a later stage it will be made available for Apple mobile devices as a 'free' app. For those who don't know, Meena is a cartoon character from South Asia. She is a spirited, nine-year-old girl, who braves all the odds – whether in her efforts to go to school or in fighting the discrimination against children.

The Meena figure has achieved remarkable popularity as she tackles the key issues affecting children. The stories revolve around the adventures of Meena, her brother Raju, her pet parrot Mithu, and members of her family and community. Bangladesh was the first country to launch Meena when a film about her struggle to go to school, called Count Your Chickens, was broadcast on national television in 1993. Since then, Meena has starred in 26 films for television, as well as radio programmes, comics and books.

This android game creates room for children to learn issues related to their own well-being through entertainment. The multi-level 'Meena' game will help children to address a specific problem or to learn a certain skill related to health, nutrition, education, gender equity, protection and disaster response.