Interactive Games

Training Teachers to Use the Sara Communication Initiative (SCI) Comic Books

The Sara Communication Initiative (SCI), developed by UNICEF in the 1990s, remains relevant today. Through comic book narratives, it encapsulates positive mind shifts for adolescents, giving them the confidence to imagine and pursue a better future. To introduce this powerful tool in classrooms, SWET organizes one-day training sessions for primary school teachers, equipping them to use two specific comic books from the initiative.

What is involved in sara Communication

Reading and Reflecting: Learners read the comic, but the facilitator pauses at a critical moment where Sara, the story’s hero, is about to or has just made a life-changing decision. This pause invites learners to analyze and reflect on Sara’s choices.

Three Part Facilitating Method

Facilitated Discussion: Learners work in small groups to assess Sara’s decision, analyzing its potential impact and how it might apply to their lives. This part encourages self-reflection and critical thinking, allowing learners to see parallels in their own choices.
Role-Playing the Story: Rather than just reading, learners act out scenes from the comic, bringing Sara’s journey to life. This method enhances creativity, imagination, and confidence, as learners step into the character’s shoes. Following each scene, a discussion reinforces the experience.
Forum Theatre: The facilitator, acting as a "joker," guides learners in exploring alternative ways Sara might have handled her situation. Here, the focus is on examining various approaches to the challenge, emphasizing that real-life obstacles often have multiple solutions. This “rehearsal for life” helps learners build confidence and resilience for the future.

Preparing Facilitators: Essential Skills for Gamified Learning

Teachers and facilitators are crucial in making SWET’s activities impactful. Here’s how we prepare them

What We Do

Creating Safe Learning Spaces: Facilitators are trained to foster an inclusive and supportive environment, encouraging learners to express themselves and engage fully.
Guiding Reflection: Post-activity reflection is key. Facilitators help learners connect their experiences to real-life situations, promoting self-awareness and empathy.
Adaptability: Facilitators are taught to observe learners’ responses and adapt the activity accordingly, ensuring each learner benefits.

Building Emotional Intelligence Through Play: Turning Feelings into Positive Outcomes

SWET’s activities also help learners understand and channel their emotions constructively, empowering them to navigate challenges with confidence

What is involved

Exploring Emotions: Learners face simulated real-life scenarios that evoke emotions like frustration and excitement, helping them recognize these feelings.
Transforming Negative Emotions: Facilitators guide learners in turning setbacks into learning opportunities, showing how perseverance and self-awareness can lead to positive outcomes.
Reflective Discussions: Learners are encouraged to discuss their feelings and responses after each activity, reinforcing emotional intelligence and resilience.

Key Activities: Gamified Learning at SWET

Below are some of SWET’s signature activities, designed to make learning fun, memorable, and practical:

A: Walking Narrow Bridges

Objective: Builds resilience, problem-solving, and reliance on support networks.
Set-Up: Learners walk a narrow “bridge” over an imaginary “river” filled with symbolic obstacles representing challenges like social stigma or family expectations.
Process:
Attempting the Bridge: Learners try to cross the bridge alone, encountering “falls” to simulate setbacks.
Support Network: A second bridge is introduced to show the power of community and family support.
Celebration: Successful crossings are celebrated, reinforcing perseverance.
Reflection: Afterward, learners reflect on how support systems can be crucial in real life.

B: Escape Room Challenge

Objective: Fosters teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Set-Up: A room with a series of puzzles and clues relevant to topics like health and safety.
Process:
Form Teams: Learners form teams to “escape” the room by solving clues.
Solve Puzzles: Each clue requires creativity and communication, promoting collaboration.
Reflection: Learners discuss how teamwork helped them succeed, linking these skills to real-world problem-solving.

C: Debate Competition

Objective: Enhances critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills.
Set-Up: Teams research debate topics relevant to their community, such as health or equality.
Process:
Preparation and Debate: Learners present arguments and counterarguments.
Feedback: Facilitators ensure respectful engagement and give constructive feedback.
Reflection: Learners reflect on how debate skills apply to advocating for positive change.

D: STEM Challenges

Objective: Cultivates creativity, problem-solving, and application of STEM knowledge
Set-Up: Teams use locally available materials to address community challenges like sanitation or nutrition
Process:
Identify and Prototype Teams research a problem, design a solution, and create a prototype.
Testing and Feedback: Learners refine their designs based on feedback.
Reflection: Learners discuss the practical impact of their projects and share with peers and community members.

D: Fleet of Hope with Card Characters

Objective: Builds resilience, social skills, and teamwork.
Set-Up: Learners select character cards (e.g., “Captain of Resilience,” “Navigator of Compassion”) and use each character’s strengths to overcome challenges.
Process:
Character Role: Learners embody different characters, working together to navigate the “ocean” filled with obstacles symbolizing peer pressure or economic challenges
Team and Decisions Teams make decisions based on each character’s strengths, reinforcing teamwork and strategic thinking.
Reflection: Learners discuss the practical impact of their projects and share with peers and community members.

Wrapping Up: Connecting Games to Life Skills

Each activity wraps up with a reflective discussion where learners connect their experiences to real-life challenges, internalizing skills like resilience, teamwork, critical thinking, and empathy. SWET’s gamified learning approach makes education enjoyable, engaging, and transformative.