The transition from youth to adulthood is full of challenges. Daily, young people are faced with making choices and decision on all aspects of their lives. As adults we try to give advice, sometimes they listen, sometimes they don't. We are quick to tell then what is right and wrong before giving them time and support to think for themselves and consider the consequences of their own actions. Is this effective or can we advise our youth in other ways?
The concept for designing the board game came about after a needs assessment carried out amongst the youth in Zomba district. What emerged, amongst other things, was a gap in the way young people got accessible, youth friendly information on HIV & AIDS, SRH and other related issues. Young people have a right to access information and it does not always have to be presented in the traditional style of reading from books, or from teachers and youth leaders. I therefore had the idea of creating a resource that would be interactive, educational and, most importantly, fun and enjoyable for the youth of Malawi. People learn best when they are interacting, relaxed and at ease.
After this initial idea I realised if this resource was going to be developed further I required the support, advice and guidance from the young people I worked with at YONECO. Many of these youth played a significant role in the development of the game, especially giving a Malawian perspective.
Encouraged by a small group of youth who quickly understood the concept of the game, we set about designing questions, statements and looking for relevant answers for a range of topics. Whilst still in draft form, we played the game with 40 young people from community based organisations and youth clubs throughout Zomba District who were involved in training organised as a result of the earlier needs assessment. We wanted to see how accessible and interested the youth were in the game. They quickly grasped the concept of playing the game and absorbed themselves into it.
I felt it was important that the youth had some form of ownership of the game, especially as I envisaged them being instrumental in facilitating it in their own communities. All throughout the development of the game, there has been a great level of enthusiasm from the youth in Zomba District as they anticipate using it in their local clubs.
Mairi MacDonald