About the project

Red Cross VR is an immersive training experience designed to educate participants about International Humanitarian Law through realistic, first-person decision scenarios. We built it with the Netherlands Red Cross and Leiden University, and it puts students, professionals and trainees straight into the kind of high-pressure situations that armed conflict produces.

Rather than relying on abstract theory, users navigate a simulated conflict zone where they must rapidly assess ethically and legally complex situations, decisions that demonstrate the tangible impact of humanitarian law.

The challenge & solution

The Red Cross operates regularly in conflict zones affecting both civilians and combatants. While “rules of war” are recognized, few grasp their practical complexity. Traditional education supplements classroom instruction with role-play exercises like paintball scenarios.

Red Cross VR takes that a step further with 360° drone-captured footage. Users encounter three realistic scenarios inspired by actual events: wounded enemy soldiers, children with weapons, or civilians in crossfire. Participants make time-critical decisions grounded in International Humanitarian Law, sparking post-experience reflection and dialogue.

Why it matters

It works as something people actually want to try, and at the same time it shows how the rules protecting human dignity in conflict play out, and how a single decision can save a life.