One Step Every Day is a card game developed for rural children aged 12–16 years. The purpose of the game is to motivate and educate children on various social topics. The four colors (or suits) of the card game correspond to four segments of the social diaspora:
- Livelihood and Cleanliness
- Education and Learning
- Climate and Environmental Response
- Gender and Humanity
Game Rules
The rules are loosely based on Rummy but simplified so that anyone can pick it up easily. There can be 2–4 players (more with two decks). Each player receives 10 cards face down. The remaining cards are placed at the center with one face up.
Players must form 3–3–4 sets. One set can have the same day number across multiple colors. The remaining sets must be color-based sequences.
Example:
Day 5–6–7 (Blue)
Day 3–4–5 (Yellow)
Day 2–2–2–2 (Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple)
The Research
The idea originated while collecting data and conducting interviews for a UNICEF WASH report. Over 20 schools were visited to understand rural lifestyles, children’s thinking, and their awareness of social issues.
Awareness existed in fragments across gender equality, environment, and child marriage, but lacked consistency. Around ten key topics were identified for each segment.
Execution
The final output was a six-page printable PDF formatted for A4 paper, allowing easy printing and instant distribution.
