The Roleplay Workshop

What Is the Abantey Program

Abantey is a unique approach to working with youth. To my knowledge, it is the only program of its kind. Additionally, it is not easy to explain exactly what we do.

Basically, we use a role playing game, Abantey, that I designed to work with the kids. You may or may not be familiar with role playing games. I am assuming that you are not familiar with role playing games, except possibly in the sense of those used in clinical work.

There are two types of role playing: the ones used by clinical professionals and commercial games. The two types actually are quite similar: the people using them take on the 'role' of a person, real or imaginary, not themselves. The main difference between the two is that commercial games are just that - games. They have rules of play and take place in an imaginary world.

There are hundreds of role playing games in existence. The most well known of these games is Dungeons & Dragons. Role playing games all feature an imaginary world -- from fantasy worlds like Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings), to realistic worlds, or futuristic worlds like Star Wars.

The players of the game create characters in these imaginary worlds. The characters are defined by their attributes (strength, intelligence, etc.) and their abilities (what they know how to do). Once the characters are created, the story director or game master gives the players a task, mission or a scenario that they must respond to and solve using their characters’ abilities.

Role playing games work wonderfully for any youth oriented program with an adult game master who has an educational background and who adjusts the stories to promote an educational environment. Thoughtful use of a role playing game can easily promote student self esteem, problem solving skills, creativity and provide a mentoring environment. Role playing games can also be used to address issues such as violence, the development of conflict resolution skills and how to deal with emotional stress.

Abantey is more difficult to master than many of the games on the market. It was designed to give players many opportunities to practice basic math skills, such as addition, subtraction, integers, multiplication, division, and percents. Abantey was also designed to create sociopolitical situations requiring players to develop interpersonal and conflict resolution skills as well as fostering problem solving abilities, creativity, imagination, and tolerance for new ideas and differing beliefs.

I hold teaching credentials in Biology, Physical and General Science and Psychology and my staff is extensively trained in the methods and concerns of working with youth: the health and safety of the participants, their emotional well-being and how to create a fun, educational and supportive environment.

Feel free to call me, or send an email if you have any questions.

Becky Thomas
Program Designer and Director
(510) 654-3582
Email Becky