Educational games about COVID-19 have been organised at summer camps of Moldova
With the support of UNICEF and other partners, about 1,000 children learned the measures to prevent COVID-19 through educational games at summer camps.
For 16-year-old Sabina the educational games organised at school have become an efficient way to look to the future with confidence and learn how to enjoy a healthy lifestyle while the world is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The educational games are carried out within the "DIALOGICA" project, implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Intellectual Games Association and the Ministry of Education, with the support of USAID and UK Aid. Moreover, this year children at ten summer camps were also actively involved in these informative activities.
"I found out from a friend that the "DIALOGICA" project took place at a camp in Vadu lui Vodă. So, I was delighted when they told me they would be here too. That means a good opportunity for other kids to find out about these games, and also I miss it. I haven't played since the beginning of the summer," says Sabina while enjoying her summer vacation at the "Viișoara" camp in Anenii Noi.
Asked about the goals she wants to achieve when she becomes an adult, Sabina is convinced that she will be a good specialist in the world of numbers and find quick solutions to any problem.
"I developed my logic. Even my parents noticed it. I became more resourceful, communicative, patient, focused, and confident in my abilities. Once you practice them, you start to pay attention to all the details and know information from all areas," says Sabina enthusiastically, while she is eager to tell the children at the camp the secrets behind these games before the adventure begins. "It is an excellent idea to organise these games at summer camps. Children can rest and learn something new at the same time."
Another role of educational games is to inform children about how they can protect themselves from COVID-19 and minimise the impact of the changes caused by the pandemic on their way of life. Sabina says that these activities have also become a reliable source to learn about the virus. Moreover, she shared some learned lessons with her family. "Most of the questions we have during the games are very closely related to the prevention of COVID-19. This way, it is much easier for a child to understand this information. For example, we learned how to wear a mask, disinfect hands, and much more."
With a genuine leadership attitude and the belief that educational games can help many other children in Moldova Sabina can't wait to start the new academic year. She plans to form her team and share the magic of these activities with other children.
"By the way, my younger sister, nine years old, can't wait to get involved in these games because she always sees me happy, especially when I come home with prizes," says the young woman.
At the same time, representatives of the summer camp say that the children's enthusiasm motivates them to make all the effort to organise these games every summer.
"The children reacted very positively to the activities carried out within this project. We also have good feedback from educators. Even after the first activity they urged me to organise these games every camp round. In this way, rest at the camp becomes more active and useful. We manage to provide children with fun activities that contribute to the development of certain skills, as well as informing them about COVID-19," says Constantin Croitor, director of the "Viișoara" summer camp in the Anenii Noi district.
During March and May 2022, the "Dialogica" project was implemented at schools in Edineț, Anenii Noi, Orhei, Basarabeasca, Taraclia, Cahul, and Ungheni. Also, informative games about COVID-19 will be organised continuously at schools in the other 15 districts of the Republic of Moldova. Around 16,000 children and 1,600 teachers participated in the educational games. This project is carried out according to the methodology developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.
