Covid-19 awareness game helps keep teachers and parents safe | Western Cape Education Department
Covid-19 awareness game helps keep teachers and parents safe

Covid-19 awareness game helps keep teachers and parents safe

26 August 2021

"Through the distribution of this first-of-its-kind Covid-19 awareness game, the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) is teaching even the youngest of our citizens that they too have a huge role in preventing the spread of Covid-19. 

Through this boardgame, we aim to ensure that children keep both their teachers and parents safe from infection so that schools can remain open and that those who care for children stay healthy and keep on working.  In essence, we are ensuring their future,” stated the Executive Mayor, Ald Dr Elna von Schlicht, at the official launch of the Covid-19 awareness game.

The CWDM developed the game based on the familiar snakes and ladders game to address the basic methods of preventing infection and the spread of the virus. The game includes rules on behaviour common to all children – for example, to advance ‘You are wearing your mask correctly – move on three spaces’ and of course, penalties ‘Oops, you shared your cooldrink bottle – skip a turn’.  All the actions are well within the child’s sphere of control, thus making the behaviour goals achievable for all.   

“We are so excited about this initiative”, stated Edgar Johannes, Curriculum Adviser for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) in the Cape Winelands. “Not only will it help protect our teachers and learners, but there are also other benefits. The game encourages literacy, counting and team playing and promotes a wholesome household activity, as learners may take their sets home so that their siblings, parents and friends can play too.”

The laminated gameboard, placeholders and dice can all be sanitised and are packaged into a resealable bag that can be clearly marked with the child’s name. The CWDM will hand over 10 000 game sets to the WCED in the Cape Winelands for distribution to Grade 2 learners. The main boardgame is in English and the package contains a printed copy of the game and the rules in both Afrikaans and isiXhosa. Distribution will commence at the most vulnerable rural schools in the district.  

The vaccination drive in the Cape Winelands District is also ongoing, with 133 646 citizens that were either fully or partially vaccinated by 16 August 2021.  The Western Cape Department of Health continues with outreach efforts to ensure that those living in rural areas have access to the vaccine.

“It is important to note that until population immunity has been reached, each person is required to practise the basics of prevention – even if fully vaccinated,” said Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, at the event. “I applaud the Cape Winelands team for this innovative initiative. It shows their commitment to the wellbeing of each citizen. This project ticks so many of the right boxes, as it supports economic growth through a healthy community and promotes dignity through equity. And by making it available on the CWDM webpage, it is available to all.”

From the first week of September, the printable version of the game, in all three languages, will be available on the CWDM’s webpage free of charge.

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