How a simple board game can transform overcrowded refugee classrooms
In short: In Uganda’s Kyangwali refugee camp, classrooms can swell to 200 students, leaving many children disconnected from the lesson. But Joel Baraka is using the mechanics of play to bridge this gap, turning rigid curricula into an engaging, competitive experience that brings every student into focus.
For students in refugee settlements, the educational landscape is often defined by scarcity. In the Kyangwali refugee camp in Uganda, learners face crowded classrooms, rigid curricula, and a heavy reliance on teachers as the primary source of information. With class sizes reaching up to 200 children, students in the back of the room often lose focus, drifting into their own makeshift games during lessons.
Joel Baraka, who grew up in Kyangwali after fleeing civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, recognized this disconnect firsthand. While studying civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Baraka collaborated with fellow student Anson Liow to develop the 5 STA-Z board game. The goal was to move away from passive listening toward an active, participatory model of learning.
The 5 STA-Z game is designed to break down core Ugandan curriculum subjects—including math, science, social studies, and English—into manageable, easy-to-understand components. The gameplay mechanism relies on clusters of five children, a structure that makes large groups easier for teachers to manage while fostering both collaboration and competition. Players can challenge one another with questions or seek help from peers, ensuring that the 'stars' of the game are those mastering the content.
By integrating the natural impulse to play with academic rigor, Baraka’s initiative seeks to improve educational access across sub-Saharan Africa. The project represents a shift in pedagogical approach: rather than attempting to fix the physical infrastructure of schools, it uses the power of engagement to ensure that even in the most resource-limited environments, no child is left watching from the back of the room.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Board Game Getting Kids Excited About School | Joel Baraka | TED
- Also: The board game gets kids excited about school | UConn KIDS (Kids in Developmental Science) | University of Connecticut
- Also: Learning constellations: New game helps refugee camp kids become academic 'stars' - College of Engineering - University of Wisconsin-Madison
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