My friend Kristin, a former camp
counselor herself, had the brilliant idea that we adapt this well-loved camp game to
compact malaria.
So we did. And it was awesome.
We began with some classroom learning. Fifth and sixth grade students rotated through three 30 minute lessons taught by Peace Corps Volunteers paired with teachers from my school. One classroom on bed net care,
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez, |
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
And one on symptoms and
treatment.
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
Now that students had heard the
content, it was time to apply it.
In the form of bonkers.
Amazing!
Children earned points by
completing malaria-related tasks at stations.
They did things like cover
standing water to prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs.
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
They searched through a pile of
clothing to find protective clothing for nighttime wear
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
cleared the area of grass and fallen leaves where mosquitoes
spend their time,
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
and completed a puzzle and answered questions on the
importance of taking prescribed malaria medication as directed.
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
Other stations included acting out 3 malaria symptoms and
properly tucking in a bednet.
But there’s a problem. Mosquitoes carrying
the malaria parasite ran about the field. They infected children with the
deadly parasite, also known as bonking children. Students with malaria were out
of action until a community health nurse came to save them with the malaria
medication. Bednets were hung throughout the field, but there was only room in
each for 3 children at a time.
The children loved it! The adult
teachers loved it! I loved it!
Here’s what it looked like.
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
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| Photo by Michael Alvarez |
The kids had to put discussed
malaria prevention techniques into practice. They controlled mosquito
populations by clearing grass and covering water. They protected themselves
from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and using bed nets. They identified
symptoms and displayed proper treatment seeking behaviors by getting medicine
from a health care worker and recognized the importance of taking that medicine
properly. Just as medicine would cost money in real life, getting bonked in the
game cost the children a point. The message: prevention is the best route to
take.
In the end, the team with the most
points remaining after subtracting medical fees (bonks) won the game. Not only
was this game fun and memorable, it was meaningful.
Being a camp counselor is the best
job ever, and in this heat, Peace Corps is really just a two year long summer
camp.
