Lud'eco, a game to improve hygiene practices and environmental management
LUD'ECO! is a new tool to raise awareness and foster action to protect the environment and the ecosystems of the region but also to improve hygiene practices of youth and indirectly, their relatives. From January 2011 onward, LUD'ECO! will be distributed in the project intervention zone and near other bodies of water of South Benin.
Throw the dices, launch the idea and the winner is… the environment! LUD'ECO! is an educational tool that was created to raise awareness and push young people to improve the environment and their quality of life.
The fluvio-lagoonal region in the south of Benin experiences many health and environmental management problems. The human factor plays an important part in dwindling natural resources and the degradation of the environment of Lake Ahémé and other bodies of water in the region. Bad fishing habits, poor hygiene practices and bad environmental management feature among the causes.
The ADEFIH project (Support Project to the Development of the Fisheries Sector) organised training sessions to raise awareness among fishing communities about responsible fishing practices, good hygiene and the protection of the environment. In order to enhance the populations’ eagerness to act for a better environment and better quality of life in the villages surrounding the bodies of water, the ADEFIH project started targeting a broader audience with its awareness-raising campaign.
That is why an educational game was developed. This game targets youth from 14 years and up. It does not just want to raise awareness about the issues but also work towards a healthier environment and better quality of life as an essential stage towards the sustainable development of the bodies of water, their resources and especially nearby inhabitants!
LUD'ECO! is a new tool and approach to raise awareness and foster action to protect the environment and the ecosystems of the region but also to improve hygiene practices of young people and indirectly their relatives, friends and neighbours.
LUD'ECO! is based on Ludo, a game that is very popular in Benin. It is quite similar to the ludo board game. There are a few differences though. LUD'ECO! is played by teams and the spaces on the board are illustrated. These illustrations represent a question, a bonus, or a good or poor hygiene or environmental management practice. Depending on the space on which their pieces are, players must explain the good and/or poor practices or answer one or more questions. Depending on the situation and the answers provided, players may move on or have to move back their pieces a certain number of spaces.
During tests, young people and their coaches turned out to be very enthusiastic about the gaming aspect, which shows that raising awareness through a game works for young people. LUD'ECO! will be distributed from January onwards in the project intervention zone and near other bodies of water in southern Benin among high schools, NGOs and youth groups involved in environmental education.
