GETH2O: Serious Games

"A serious game which simulates the complexity of life in the slums, the scarcity of resources, how to deal with them and prevent escalation of conflict."

GETH2O is an online flash, mobile phone, and board game which deals with the themes of poverty, corruption, water scarcity, crime, and community development. Butterfly Works has developed this game with co-designers in Kenya as the first of their Serious Games series. The mobile game is available to download via various mobile portals in Africa.

"By playing the game, be it the single player mobile phone version or the multi-player board game, it fosters the awareness about how to peacefully handle community problems and options are flagged for common action and possible long-term results. As such, the game provides an engaging, self-reinforcing context in which to motivate and educate players."

The board game is sold in the Netherlands and Nairobi, Kenya. In Nairobi, the game is available free of charge to organisations in the city area who would like to use the board game in their work, for example, for peace organisations, community centres, and those who reach out to young people. By applying to the game creators, a game training is available (with payment to support the trainers' work).

In addition, the flash game is available online. It is also free to download as a mobile game for a range of phones at various platforms. On the website of the game, there are also PDF files available for youth facilitators who would like to use the game.

For information about the requirements for the application of a free board game and training or information about the board game in general, please contact Tobias Ouma: tobias@mamabits.com

Below are videos from the game creators:

GetH2O Challenge - Meet Ben. from ButterflyWorks - Learning on Vimeo.

GetH2O Challenge - Meet Winnie. from ButterflyWorks - Learning on Vimeo.