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Games health workers can introduce in their villages
Games can be fun to play and at the same time teach about important health
practices. Some learning games are used with groups of mothers and children in
community programs. An example is the “Snakes and Ladders” game from Liberia,
Africa shown and explained on the next page.
One of the strengths of this
version of “Snakes and Ladders”
is that the pictures, messages,
and language have been adapted
to The local situation. For instance,
in squares 74 and 8 it says that
a bottle-fed baby is “quick to go
back”—which to the Liberian
people means to go back to God,
to die. Also, “running stomach”
in square 24 is the local term for
diarrhea.
One of the weaknesses of this version of the game is that it focuses mainly
on the physical causes of poor health. Where social causes are mentioned, the
messages tend to put the blame on the poor themselves rather than on problems
in the social system. This reinforces poor people’s sense of powerlessness and
worthlessness, rather than strengthening their self-confidence and their will to act
to change their situation.
For example, the message in
squares 73 and 31 tells players
that the family’s poverty is their
own fault, that if they were not so
lazy they would not be poor. This
message misses the fact that many
poor people work very hard, or
gladly would if given the chance.
Also, much of the benefit of their
work goes to those who already
have plenty. Most of the poor
stay poor no matter how hard
they work.
A much more positive message
about the cause of poverty might
be one like this
If your group plans to use this
snakes and ladders game, we
suggest that you first discuss its strengths and weaknesses.
Then adapt the messages to communicate what you decide is
most helpful for your situation.