Caption: Ms. Debbie Carew, Ms. Beth Smith and Ms, Kaye van Rooi watch students play the Swift 30: SDG Edition focused on quiz questions around the Sustainable Development Goals/
The United Nations in Namibia joined forces with the Windhoek International School to introduce the board game Swift 30: SDG Edition to students in grades 1-5.
Windhoek International School students from Grade 1 - 5 visited their school library to join in on a series of play sessions facilitated by the United Nations (UN) Namibia team. The students experienced playing the brand new game developed by the UN Namibia in collaboration with a local SME Afroprintline. The Swift 30 SDG Edition was launched on 12 May 2021 by the Deputy Minister of Education, Hon. Faustina Caley, and Sen Pang, UN Resident Coordinator in Namibia.
Swift 30: SDG Edition is a locally made board game that brings the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) into the hands of the youth, to educate them on the goals and ways they can bring about positive impact. The game was produced in collaboration with the Namibian entrepreneur Ms. Ndeshi Fikameni and her company, Afroprintline. The game is sustainably designed and built on the concept of her successful Namibian “30-second” rendition, the original “Swift 30.” Ndeshi co-facilitaed the session helping to explain the rules and troubleshooting alongside the UN team.
Caption: Groups of students playing Swift SDG Edition in the school library
The activation with WIS was the first of many to get the game into the hands of learners to teach them about the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The coordination lead from WIS, Ms Debbie Carew hailed the initiative as an “out of the box way to connect the concepts of the goals with the students, which is fully aligned to the learning ethos of the WIS.”
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice, and are streamlined into Namibia’s National Development Plans. The SDGs were adopted in 2015 by world leaders. “Guided by the goals, it is now up to all of us, governments, businesses, civil society and the general public to work together to build a better future for everyone,” said Errolice Tjipura, from the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Namibia.
Through the creation of this game, UN Namibia aims to empower youth to take their future into their own hands and embody the premise of the SDGs to take action and make an impact in their daily lives. The UN team visiting the school were impressed with the knowledge the WIS students have of the SDGs. “It was enlightening to see the level of exposure the students have to specific SDGs, even the grade one learners could relate to some of the goals. We are grateful for the opportunity to complement the units of study on the SDGs through this game,” said Welda Mouton, from the United Nations Information Centre.
The WIS learners all enjoyed a friendly (yet fierce) competition when playing Swift 30: SDG Edition. The game is fast-paced, entertaining, and, most importantly, educational. All the questions are geared towards a Namibia audience along with a global perscpective and therefore the players get to learn about the country in a fun and interactive way.
Students and teachers were completely immersed in the fun and provided the following feedback:
“I really like the game. It was very fun and it helped us with teamwork and with world health.” Gabriella, 4D
Caption: Grade one students were eager to join in on the learning fun
“I enjoyed the game because of how well thought out it was and the fact that there were things where we needed to read the card upside down or switch players! I loved the team work, sometime we would make mistakes but it was fun none the less. The game was about the world and equal advantages and it really made me think about the fact that not all people have things like houses, money, food, electricity and even more worries me that so many families have to suffer from starvation, sicknesses…It’s sad how everyone cant have an equal life and it makes me so happy that they are trying to help and give everyone an equal advantage” [through the SDGs]. Hazel 4D
“The game was very fun and enjoyable, I learnt a lot of new things and I hope I can do stuff that helps achieve the goals and sustain a more connected planet,” Frenzy Matsi, Grade 5.
Caption: Grade 3 teacher with a group of her students playing
“I liked that it was fun and at the same time we learned something new, it was challenging and gave us an idea of what do to fix it. I also liked that is was made out of sustainable resources,” Yael Babluki, Grade 5
“I loved the way I could learn more in a fun way. I would love to play the game again soon. Appreciate the hard work you guys put into the game. Again thank you! Shafa, grade 5.
“I loved the game it was fun, I wish I can play it all day long.” Chloe 4D
Caption: Primary School Prinicipal Ms Beth Smith ( middle) flanked by Ms Debbie Carew ( left) and Ms Kaye van Rooi ( right) holding up the board game , cards and timer
