Card-based DRR game developed! [Tamba/Japan]
Tamba City is a rural city located in East-central part of Hyogo prefecture in Japan. The Ichijima-cho district in Tamba was devastated by massive floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain in August 2014. In response to this disaster, SEEDS Asia has been working with local community groups in hosting experiential learning events utilizing the town’s knowledge and resources raising from the unique lifestyles of the local residents living amongst an abundant natural environment, and specifically, their experiences in being affected by disasters. More than a hundred people have visited Ichijima-cho from other cities to engage in leisure activities such as planting and harvesting crops, and in nature-walks that highlights the risks associated with “abandoned” forests.
In 2020, SEEDS Asia worked in developing a curriculum of experiential learning events, as well as a card-based learning tool, created using information from past events organized with the local groups in Tamba. The curriculum intends to provide information on different activities organized in Ichijima-cho, based on their category and level of complexity, so those activities will have more variety and encourage participants to try out several different sets of activities during different seasons.
The card-based game, on the other hand, was developed to efficiently explain the importance of mutual help and preparedness before and during disasters. There are two kinds of cards used in the game – 15 “trouble cards” and 66 “help cards”, which can be matched and exchanged among players. For example, a trouble would be “want to go to the toilet”, and a matching help to it would be “emergency toilet kits”. The players acquire different types of cards in the beginning, and will have to ask for help from other players for “useful cards” if they want to satisfy their needs depending on the “trouble cards” that they hold. In the course of exchanging the cards among players, it is hoped that the players will imagine what it is like to help others, and will notice what kind of items/help would be useful in disaster situations – an exchange system for assistance!
The game was finalized when a SEEDS Asia staff member visited Ichijima-cho on 12th February. The game was launched and played with a local organization called “Pompoko”, SEEDS Asia’s local counterpart, which led to a fruitful discussion. It was suggested by the attendees that players could form groups to encourage internal discussions for decision-making regarding type of cards to be exchanged, and for use of different colors so that persons with visual disorders are able to clearly see letters on the cards.
