Access to clean water and proper sanitation practices are critical for public health and environmental sustainability. However, in many communities, awareness and adherence to best practices related to water and sanitation are lacking. Working as Implementation Support Agency ( ISA) under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), IMAGIN developed a creative and engaging approach to address this issue by utilizing a Snake and Ladder Game as a Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) tool to promote and reinforce best practices regarding water and sanitation.
The specific goals are as follows: a) Increase knowledge about the importance of Jal Jeevan Mission, water conservation, clean water and sanitation.
- b) Encourage the adoption of best practices, such as mindful water usage, proper waste disposal, and water conservation.
- c) Foster a sense of responsibility and community engagement in maintaining clean water sources and hygienic sanitation facilities.
Target Audience: The target audience for this BCC initiative includes community members, women, school children, and local leaders residing in areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities. By engaging these stakeholders, we aim to create a cascading effect of knowledge dissemination within the community.
- Game Design and Development: IMAGIN Develop a customized Snake and Ladder Game board with the following elements: a) Water and Sanitation-themed illustrations and visuals.
- b) Squares representing positive behaviors/practices (e.g., Turing off water tap after collecting water, Best Practices, Community Involvement , Drinking FHTC Water , Spreading awareness ).
Squares representing negative behaviors (e.g., Water Theft, Water Wastage, improper waste disposal).
- c) Snake squares to represent setbacks caused by poor practices. Ladder squares to represent progress made through good practices.
- Game Sessions and Facilitation: IMAGIN tam members are organizing interactive game sessions in schools, community centers, and public gatherings. Trained facilitators are guiding participants through the game, explaining the rules, and facilitating discussions about the depicted behaviors and their consequences. These sessions are serving as opportunities to answer questions, dispel myths, and share additional information about water and sanitation.
6 . Monitoring and Evaluation : IMAGIN regularly assess the impact of the game-based BCC initiative through pre- and post-intervention surveys to measure changes in knowledge and behavior.
We are Conducting focus group discussions and interviews to gather qualitative feedback and insights from participants.
7 . Sustainability Plan: To ensure the project’s long-term sustainability, we will: Train local facilitators to lead game sessions and maintain engagement within the community.
Collaborate with local organizations and government agencies to integrate the game into existing water and sanitation awareness campaigns.
Establish partnerships with private sector entities for financial support and resource mobilization.
- Conclusion: The utilization of the Snake and Ladder Game as a Behavioral Change Communication tool has the potential to make a significant impact on promoting best practices regarding water and sanitation. By combining entertainment with education, we can engage the target audience in a fun and interactive manner, fostering behavioral change and ultimately contributing to improved public health and sustainable water and sanitation practices within the communities.
