Last week we worked hard to promote our Connect Healthy Rivers project. Our ‘sustainable development’ goals fit in well with the goals of the municipality of Mutare, but also with the VEI. The municipality’s ambitions are great for the coming years. We have had discussions with various partners: with the City Council, with Robson, coordinator of the VEI, with the head of community services Mrs Machona, directors of the primary schools, Keaven, Allen, Lynn James of the MRRI and Brian James, MP and the heads of the 8 municipal primary schools and their sports coordinators. We played the games with several of these partners.
We played the games with representatives of the secondary schools (elected students), who are linked to the municipality as “junior counsellors”. They have been appointed ambassadors to introduce the games in their schools.
The schools are very enthusiastic. The directors have indicated that the serious games as a method is a huge addition to their educational curriculum. We have now played the games in classes at 4 primary schools in different neighborhoods together with interns from the municipality and the teachers. The children are very spontaneous, work together and indicate that they learn a lot from it. They embrace the games.
In the coming days we will go to 2 more schools to turn off the games. The students who play along are addressed as ambassadors. They have to play it with other students at school. Mrs Machona of the municipality of Mutare wants to have the games set out at all municipal schools before the end of the year. There are 8 municipal schools with a huge number of students: between 1000 and 1900 students. Class sizes range from 40-60 children. She also wants schools to include the provision of the games in their budget. One of the directors will consider the assignments to make the game suitable for younger students and also to adapt it more to the Zimbabwean reality. From kindergarten, they want to take children into taking care of their environment and increasing water awareness.
Compared to previous visits, it is striking that the municipal school buildings have been greatly refurbished and a lot of greenery has been planted. The municipality of Mutare invests in education. Mrs Machona also wants to approach private schools to set up the game. She would like to focus on an event to have schools play against each other.
The VEI has an interest in investing in education or in social activities to promote water awareness and attention to a clean environment. They mainly contribute on a technical level but do not have time to work on social support.
In the coming days, we will focus on even more visits to schools to introduce the games, but also on conversations with possible candidates to form a project team here.
