We have become desensitized. Our play pedagogy provokes joy, frustration, and innovation while playfully bypassing avoidance techniques which sidestep global responsibility. Through cognitive research, constructive simulation, role-play, team building, and solution-oriented service learning, we successfully keep youth curious and playfully engaged with these challenging topics.
Students are invited into a roleplay where they redesign a foosball table to reflect their research on SDG topics such as poverty, consumerism, gender & environment. One team has advantages (two figures connected at the feet to expand kicking surface), while the other team is severely impaired (one leg missing due to poor wage/health) & the surface is polluted (the ball falls into poisoned water hole – both teams lose a point). Their self-made unfair table introduces the subject of fairness, justice, and responsibility in a playful way which motivates students to stay engaged. Students instinctually know that this global playing field is not acceptable and requires justice. Thus, they are ready to take responsibility through practicing ‘Fair Actions’ inside and outside the school to catalyze change. Students earn points for these actions, they feel empowered, & return their figures to the original state. Students develop global perspective, critical & constructive thinking.
The first prototype project week was developed in the fall of 2012. In 2013, we performed tests in youth centers. In 2014, we began working with schools and added an XXL festival version. In 2015 we began developing our educational material. In 2018, we printed our first collection and developed a new day project. 2019-2021 have been very slow due to Corona restrictions.
About 450 students have been through intensive exposure at 22 schools and approximately 5000 students through secondary exposure as a result of open access to the transformed Foosball Table / Tournaments and Fair Action events.
The project week was awarded two World Didac Awards in 2018. A published 3 year study confirm a long term learning effect. Our students can share in detail what they experienced 5 years later.
Soccer is the most famous sport in the world. Our method of serious play in context of a foosball table can be adapted to cultures and languages around the world.
See our webpage and view our videos: www.fairbattles.ch
Turn on the English subtitles if you are not German speaking.
For more information, please contact Bryan Haab: info@fairbattles.ch
